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The Price of Peace: Trump's Territorial Concession and Kyiv's Plea Against Appeasement

The Mirage of Peace in Gaza's Second Act

Sunday, 19 October 2025 20:53

Abstract

A new diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine has been defined by a stark divergence in American and Ukrainian positions, following a series of high-stakes meetings in Washington and a public statement from the US President suggesting Russia should be allowed to retain territories it has seized. This shift in the American stance, which came after a direct conversation with the Russian President, has prompted a forceful appeal from Kyiv to its Western allies to resist the temptation of territorial appeasement.

Historical Context

Recent Findings

The White House Pivot on Ukrainian Sovereignty

The diplomatic landscape surrounding the conflict in Ukraine underwent a significant and sudden transformation in mid-October 20252. United States President Donald Trump, speaking in an interview with Fox News that aired on 19 October 20253, indicated a willingness to accept Russian territorial gains as a condition for a peace settlement2,4. The President stated that he expected any agreement between Kyiv and Moscow to involve Russia retaining parts of the Ukrainian territory it has occupied since the full-scale invasion began in February 20222. When asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would be open to ending the war without taking significant Ukrainian land, Mr Trump responded, “Well, he’s going to take something”3,4. He elaborated on this position by saying, “I mean, they fought and he has a lot of property. I mean, you know… he’s won certain property”2,3. This public declaration marked a notable reversal from the President’s earlier, more hawkish rhetoric in September 20252. At that time, Mr Trump had publicly encouraged Ukraine to continue fighting to reclaim all occupied land and had even floated the possibility of supplying Kyiv with Tomahawk cruise missiles2. The new position, which appeared to accept the principle that military conquest could define national borders, was further cemented in a social media post following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy3,8. In the post, Mr Trump called for a peace deal “with property lines being defined by War and Guts”3,8. He urged both sides to “stop where they are” and “let History decide”8. The US President also expressed concern about depleting American weapons stocks, stating that the United States could not give Ukraine all the weapons it wanted because Washington needed them for its own defence4,6,11. This sentiment was a clear signal that the long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles sought by Kyiv would not be forthcoming14.

The Kremlin's Negotiating Position

The shift in the American President’s public stance followed a two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 16 October 20253,14. Reports from senior officials familiar with the details of the call, as cited by The Washington Post, indicated that Mr Putin had used the conversation to outline his specific territorial demands for a peace settlement8,13. The Russian leader allegedly demanded that Ukraine surrender full control of the Donetsk region, a strategically vital area in eastern Ukraine8,13. In exchange for this concession, Mr Putin reportedly hinted at a willingness to withdraw Russian troops from the occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions4,8,13. This proposal was viewed by some White House officials as a sign of progress, noting that it represented a slightly lesser territorial claim than the one Mr Putin had put forward during a previous summit with Mr Trump in Anchorage in August 202513. However, a senior European diplomat offered a starkly different assessment, suggesting that the proposal was akin to “trying to sell Ukrainians their own leg”13. The Russian demand for the entire Donetsk region is particularly significant, as Russian forces have been attempting to conquer the territory for over a decade, with Ukrainian forces remaining deeply entrenched in the area8. The Russian President’s alleged willingness to trade parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, regions that Russia partially controls, for the entirety of Donetsk, underscores the strategic importance Moscow places on securing the Donbass region13. The phone call also resulted in an agreement for Mr Trump and Mr Putin to meet in Budapest, Hungary, at an undisclosed date2,7,14. This meeting would mark the Russian leader’s first known trip to a European Union country since the full-scale invasion began in February 20227. The prospect of this bilateral summit, with the stated goal of ending the war, has further intensified the focus on the question of territorial concessions4. An exiled Russian oil tycoon, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, speaking on 19 October 2025, also suggested that Mr Putin had sent a signal to Mr Trump indicating a readiness for a deal, but one that would inevitably involve ceding land to Russia, specifically the whole of Donbass7,10.

Kyiv's Resistance to Appeasement

The diplomatic pressure from Washington coincided with a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on 17 October 20252,14. The Ukrainian leader had travelled to the United States seeking to secure long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, a weapon system that would allow Kyiv to strike military and energy targets deep inside Russian territory5,15. Mr Zelenskyy’s delegation left Washington empty-handed, as Mr Trump appeared more focused on brokering a peace deal and expressed reservations about the potential for escalation that the missiles represented14. The US President did not explicitly rule out the transfer of the missiles but was noncommittal, saying he was “looking at it” while citing the need to preserve US weapons stocks6,11,14. Following the meeting, Mr Zelenskyy acknowledged the difficulty of the territorial issue, stating that it was the most challenging aspect of the negotiations13. Upon his return from the US trip, the Ukrainian President issued a forceful public statement urging his allies not to appease Russia5,18. Writing on social media, Mr Zelenskyy declared that “Ukraine will never grant terrorists any bounty for their crimes, and we count on our partners to uphold this very position”5. He called for decisive steps from European and American allies and suggested another meeting of the Europe-led “coalition of the willing”5. The Ukrainian position remains firm: any peace plan that formalises Russian control over occupied regions, including Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk Oblasts, is unacceptable2. The Ukrainian government views the Russian demand for territorial concessions as a reward for aggression and a violation of international law3. The diplomatic push for a ceasefire and a deal comes as Moscow has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, using thousands of attack drones, guided aerial bombs, and missiles in recent weeks5,12. Mr Zelenskyy reported that in the week leading up to 19 October 2025, Russia had used more than 3,270 attack drones, 1,370 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine5. These attacks, which have left thousands without heating and light, are seen as an attempt to cripple Ukraine’s power grid ahead of the winter5,12. The Ukrainian President’s plea against appeasement is a direct response to the growing pressure from Washington to consider a peace deal that would involve ceding land, a move Kyiv views as a dangerous precedent that would only embolden further Russian aggression5.

Conclusion

The diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine have reached a critical juncture, marked by a fundamental disagreement between the United States and Ukraine over the principle of territorial integrity2,5. President Trump's public acceptance of Russia's retention of 'certain property'2,3 and the reported details of President Putin's demand for the entire Donetsk region8,13 have placed immense pressure on Kyiv to consider a peace deal based on the current lines of conflict3,8. The failure to secure long-range Tomahawk missiles during President Zelenskyy's visit to Washington further underscored the shift in American priorities toward brokering a settlement14. As the prospect of a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest looms7, the Ukrainian President's appeal to allies not to 'grant terrorists any bounty for their crimes'5 highlights the deep chasm between the desire for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the commitment to the foundational principle of national sovereignty2,5. The coming weeks will determine whether the diplomatic push will lead to a negotiated peace that formalises Russian territorial gains or if Kyiv and its European partners can successfully resist the pressure to appease Moscow5,10.

References

  1. Current time information in Добровеличківський район, UA.

    Provides the current date and time context for the article's setting.

  2. Putin has "won" property in Ukraine, won't give it back under peace deal - Trump

    Supports the date and content of Trump's statement on Fox News, his expectation that Russia will retain territory, the shift from his September stance, and the upcoming meeting with Putin in Budapest.

  3. 'He's going to take something' — Trump says Putin has 'won' territory in Ukraine

    Verifies the exact quotes from Trump's Fox News interview on 19 October 2025, the date of the interview taping, the date of the Putin phone call (Oct 16), the date of the Zelenskyy meeting (Oct 17), and the social media post about 'property lines being defined by war and guts'.

  4. Trump says Putin has captured Ukrainian territory and will keep it - RBC-Ukraine

    Confirms Trump's quote about Putin having 'won a certain property,' his statement about not providing all weapons to Ukraine, and the report that Putin demanded full control over Donetsk in exchange for parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

  5. Zelenskyy urges allies not to appease Russia after failing to secure US missiles | Ukraine

    Supports the fact that Zelenskyy failed to secure Tomahawk cruise missiles, his subsequent call for allies not to appease Russia, his quote about not granting 'terrorists any bounty for their crimes,' and the statistics on recent Russian drone and missile attacks (3,270 drones, 1,370 guided aerial bombs, nearly 50 missiles).

  6. Ukrainian drones strike major Russian gas plant as Trump says Kyiv may have to trade land for peace - The Washington Post

    Verifies Trump's quote about Putin having 'won certain property' and his noncommittal stance on Tomahawk missiles, citing concern about depleting US weapons stocks.

  7. 'Putin is ready for a deal to end war' says Russian oligarch, but not without demands

    Supports the statement by exiled Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky on 19 October 2025, his belief that Putin signalled readiness for a deal involving ceding land, and the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest being the Russian leader's first known trip to an EU country since February 2022.

  8. Piece of puzzle: Putin demands key Ukraine region in return for peace

    Confirms the Washington Post report on Putin's demand for full control of Donetsk in exchange for parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, the strategic importance of Donetsk, and Trump's social media post about 'property lines being defined by War and Guts'.

  9. FT: Trump demanded Donbas handover in expletive-filled clash with Zelensky

    Verifies the date of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting (October 17, 2025) and the context of Trump's pressure on Zelenskyy to make a deal.

  10. Trump urged Zelenskiy to cut a deal with Putin or risk facing destruction, FT reports

    Supports the claim by exiled Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky that Putin signalled readiness for a deal involving ceding land.

  11. Trump says US 'can't give all of our weapons to Ukraine' - Ukrinform

    Verifies Trump's statement about not being able to give all US weapons to Ukraine and his quote about Putin having 'won certain property'.

  12. Zelenskyy to visit Washington this week seeking long-range weapons and a Trump meeting

    Provides context on the purpose of Zelenskyy's trip (air defense and long-range capabilities) and the ongoing Russian attacks on electricity and gas infrastructure ahead of winter.

  13. Putin demanded full control over Donetsk region in conversation with Trump - WP

    Details the specific territorial demands Putin allegedly made to Trump (full Donetsk for parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson), the assessment of this as 'progress' by some US officials, the European diplomat's quote, and Zelenskyy's comment that the issue of territories was the most difficult.

  14. Trump downplays hopes he will supply Ukraine with US missiles after meeting with Zelenskyy - The Guardian

    Confirms the date of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting (October 17, 2025), Trump's focus on a peace deal over supplying Tomahawk missiles, the two-hour duration of the meeting, and the upcoming meeting with Putin in Hungary.

  15. Trump-Zelenskyy "bromance" spells trouble for Putin - The Independent - Euromaidan Press

    Supports the fact that the Ukrainian President came to Washington seeking Tomahawk cruise missiles, which are long-range US weapons.

  16. Russians Want Peace, But on Their Own Terms - Riddle Russia

    Provides context on the previous failed Anchorage summit and the general Russian public's desire for Russia to retain control over captured territories.

  17. Putin's history monologue sparked Trump's fury at Alaska summit - FT | RBC-Ukraine

    Provides context on the previous failed Anchorage summit in August 2025 and Putin's insistence that the war could end only if Ukraine capitulated and ceded more territory.

  18. World News - Reddit

    Verifies the fact that Zelenskyy urged allies not to appease Russia after failing to secure US missiles.