Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Aug 17: US President Donald Trump is reportedly backing a Russian proposal that would hand Moscow full control over Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions while freezing fighting in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, according to sources quoted by AFP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have demanded that Ukraine “leave Donbas” in return for halting his offensive on other fronts. “Trump is inclined to support it,” a source familiar with the discussions said.

Trump, who spoke separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders after his talks with Putin, relayed Moscow’s conditions, according to the Financial Times. The New York Times also reported that Trump favoured Putin’s plan, which effectively seeks Ukrainian concessions rather than a ceasefire.

However, Zelensky has firmly rejected ceding any territory, citing Ukraine’s constitution. He has not ruled out discussing the issue in a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin.

Russia annexed Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson in 2022 despite not having full control of the latter two. Russian forces currently occupy almost all of Lugansk and most of Donetsk, but Zaporizhzhia and Kherson’s main cities remain under Ukrainian control.

Observers have warned that Putin’s proposal would rest solely on his “word of honour” to freeze hostilities, raising doubts about its credibility.