On May 12, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed journalists before his departure to China, firmly denying any agreements with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the transfer of the Donbas region to Russia. When asked about a potential understanding between the two leaders, Trump responded succinctly with “no,” without elaborating further.
In the same press interaction, Trump did not dismiss the possibility of visiting Russia, stating he would do “everything necessary” to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He expressed optimism, suggesting that a resolution to the war was nearing. “I truly believe the end of the war in Ukraine is very close. I think we will ultimately reach an agreement between Russia and Ukraine,” he stated.
On May 9, Putin had similarly remarked that he believed the war against Ukraine was approaching its conclusion. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified on May 12 that there were no specific details regarding this assertion. He noted, “The president stated that Russia remains open to contacts and that work has been done in a trilateral format. The groundwork for a peace process allows us to say that the end is approaching… But in this context, it is currently impossible to speak about any specific details.”
The Russian government has indicated that the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the entire Donetsk region is a precondition for a ceasefire in Ukraine. High-ranking Russian officials have repeatedly emphasized this demand in recent days as a crucial step they expect from Kyiv.
While not explicitly stating so, Russian representatives have hinted that this topic was discussed during the meeting between Trump and Putin in Anchorage last August. The Kremlin claims that the “spirit of Anchorage” or the “understanding reached in Anchorage” should underpin any resolution in Ukraine. However, no formal agreements from the meeting have been disclosed.
The Ukrainian government has firmly rejected the demand for the entire Donbas region to come under Russian control. U.S. officials have not indicated support for such a transfer but have acknowledged that disputes over a small section of territory remain a significant barrier to conflict resolution, likely referring to the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region.
Ukraine has proposed to halt hostilities along the front line, which would allow most of the Ukrainian Donbas, though not the entire region, to remain under Russian control. However, Ukraine has no intention of legally recognizing this arrangement.
Related Reading: Zelenskyy Discusses Potential Visit of Trump Representatives to Kyiv
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied any agreements with Russia regarding the Donbas region while expressing optimism about ending the Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin maintains that the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops is a prerequisite for a ceasefire, a demand firmly rejected by Ukraine.