Washington: US President Donald Trump, on Sunday, emphasized the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, proposing that the current front lines be frozen and the eastern Donbas region be divided as a temporary measure.
According to Ghana News Agency, Trump suggested that both sides should “stop at the lines where they are – the battle lines.go home, stop killing people, and be done,” as he addressed reporters aboard Air Force One. This statement comes amidst ongoing violence in the region and heightened international concern over the conflict’s trajectory.
When queried about whether he had advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to concede the Donbas region to Russia, Trump clarified, “No. We never discussed it.” This follows a meeting between Trump and Zelensky in Washington on Friday. However, a report by The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, claimed that Trump had indeed urged Zelensky to consider relinquishing the entire Donbas to facilitate an end to the conflict.
Trump’s proposal, if accepted, could potentially allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to achieve a significant objective in the war that began in February 2022. Trump noted that approximately 78% of the land has already been “taken by Russia” and advocated for an immediate halt in hostilities, with negotiations on the specifics to occur at a later stage.
“The rest is very tough to negotiate,” Trump remarked, indicating that the complexities of the conflict could be addressed in subsequent diplomatic discussions. He suggested maintaining the status quo in the Donbas region: “Let it be cut the way it is. It’s cut up right now. They can negotiate something later on down the line.”
The Donbas region, before 2014, was a hub of Ukraine’s heavy industry, with a population of around 6.5 million, rich in coal and iron. Despite its industrial significance, many of its mines and factories were outdated. The prospect of Ukraine surrendering the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk poses a strategic disadvantage, as it would grant Russia territories it has struggled to conquer militarily while stripping Kiev of a fortified defensive position in the still Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donbas.