On Wednesday the Kremlin said that the US President’s view on Ukraine aligns firmly with Russia’s view, in that Kyiv will have to give up territory to end of the war.
Donald Trump’s administration is insisting that Ukraine should pull back from the Donbas region which Russia partially occupies, sources told Politico.
Vladimir Putin is demanding territorial concessions and EU officials are saying the war should be frozen along the current frontlines.
A senior European official told Politico, “On the territory issue, Americans are simple: Russia demands Ukraine to give up territories, and Americans keep thinking how to make it happen.”
Washington is putting immense pressure on Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky to give up territory to Putin to end the war, despite Kyiv saying this is a red line.
Read more related news:
Russia issues their gravest threat to the UK
During an interview Trump said that European leaders are “weak” and has told the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to hold elections, this has caused friction between Europe and Washington.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including AFP, on Wednesday, “In many ways, on the subject of NATO membership, on the subject of territories, on the subjects of how Ukraine is losing land, it is in tune with our understanding.”
Peskov said that the US President’s remarks are “very important.”
Trump has said that Russia is in a far stronger position to negotiate talks to end the war because of the size of Russia, he also said that Ukraine will never be able to join NATO.
President Zelensky said in response to Trump that he is ready to hold elections, but security guarantees for Ukraine will be needed so that people can vote.
“We will see how the events will unfold,” Peskov said.
Shaun Pinner who is a political commentator and a former Ukrainian Marine and a prisoner of war held in Russia said, “Zelensky firmly puts the ball back in Russia’s court.
“Moscow is now worried that elections it cannot rig will change nothing, because Ukrainians do not want to be part of Russia.”
Putin said on Friday during a visit to India that Russia will seize the Donbas “by force” should Ukraine refuse to cede territory.
President Zelensky said on Monday that Ukraine has “no right” to cede territory which will not go down well with Donald Trump or Putin.
Zelensky said, “Under our laws, under international law – and under moral law – we have no right to give anything away.
“That is what we are fighting for.”
He added, “Russia is insisting that we give up territories, but we don’t want to cede anything. We are fighting for that, as you well know.
“There are difficult problems concerning the territories and so far there has been no compromise.”
