Zelenskyy says Russia ‘complicating’ peace efforts as Trump pushes Ukraine towards deal with Moscow

The Ukrainian leader stressed that “stopping the killings is a key element in ending the war,” while thanking international partners, particularly from Northern Europe and the Baltic states, for their support.

He added that coordination with allies was “ongoing all day” and confirmed that “discussions are scheduled” ahead of his meeting with Trump.

Дякую за підтримку! Всі вказані пункти важливі, щоб можна було досягти дійсно сталого та надійного миру. Бачимо, що Росія відкидає численні вимоги щодо припинення вогню і досі не визначила, коли припинить вбивства. Це ускладнює ситуацію. Якщо в них немає волі реалізувати простий…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 16, 2025

Zelenskyy is due in Washington on Monday for talks with US President Donald Trump, who has signalled he wants to skip a ceasefire phase and move directly towards a permanent peace deal with Moscow, a major shift from his earlier demands for an immediate truce.

Following his conversations with Trump and European leaders, Zelenskyy made clear Ukraine’s bottom line. He said any settlement must include “credible security guarantees,” the release of prisoners of war, and the return of children “abducted from occupied territories” by Russia.

Trump signals readiness for territorial concessions

According to reports cited by The Guardian, Trump has indicated support for a plan under which Ukraine would cede the Donbas region, made up of Donetsk and Luhansk, to Russia. Two officials told the paper that Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw from Donbas in return for freezing the front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Although Luhansk is almost entirely under Russian control, Ukraine still holds key cities in Donetsk, including Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. The mineral-rich region has been contested for years, with tens of thousands killed defending it.

The New York Times, cited by The Guardian, reported that Trump told European leaders after the summit that he believed Zelenskyy could be persuaded to agree to such a deal.

How European allies have responded

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the garden of 10 Downing Street in London, Aug 14. (Pool Photo via AP)

European leaders have voiced unease over Trump’s approach. Diplomats told CBS that Trump informed them Putin would make “some concessions” but offered no specifics.

A joint statement from leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe was ready to support peace talks, but insisted that “international borders must not be changed by force” and that Ukraine must decide its territorial future.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Trump’s efforts as progress, but stressed that any deal must involve Zelenskyy directly. “The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without him,” he said, according to the BBC.

(With inputs from BBC, The Guardian)