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Zelensky and European Leaders Press Trump to Block Donbas Concessions, Secure Guarantees

European leaders are joining Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington to demand credible Article 5-style security guarantees from the United States following President Trump’s pivot away from a ceasefire.

Trump said that Zelensky could end the war with Russia immediately if he wished, or continue fighting, while stressing, “no going into NATO by Ukraine and no getting back Obama given Crimea.”
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hand with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
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Overview

  • President Trump has ruled out an immediate ceasefire after his Alaska summit with Putin and is pressing Ukraine for a rapid peace deal that could require ceding the Donbas region.
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded formal control of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as the price for peace, a move that would force Ukrainian troops to withdraw from fortified positions.
  • U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Putin permitted the United States and EU allies to offer Ukraine Article 5-style security guarantees, though details of enforceability and U.S. involvement remain disputed.
  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European leaders are meeting with Zelenskyy in Washington to strengthen his hand against land-swap proposals.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits ceding territory and wants peace talks to start from current front lines rather than predefined concessions.