US President Donald Trump, during a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, stated that although Ukraine itself must decide what to do with its territory, the position of the Kremlin head Vladimir Putin has not changed, Bloomberg reports, citing a source, writes UNN.
Trump stated during the conversation that although Ukraine decides what to do with its territory, Putin's position has not changed - he still wants Kyiv to cede control over the entire Donbas in eastern Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out giving up all of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. "Russia would stop advancing its claims to parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions that it does not currently control, effectively freezing the front lines there," Bloomberg writes.
"Trump's main goal, as reported during the conversation, is to achieve a quick peace agreement, not a ceasefire," the source said.
European officials welcomed Trump's efforts during the phone call with the US president. They also reiterated their call for a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy, according to people familiar with the discussion.
Putin-Trump-Zelenskyy trilateral summit not discussed yet - Kremlin16.08.25, 09:25 • [views_8008]
"European leaders reiterated that Ukraine will make decisions regarding its territory, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point for negotiations," the publication writes.
During the conversation with Trump, which lasted over an hour, they confirmed Ukraine's need for reliable security guarantees and promised to continue military assistance.
"Some European officials are concerned that Trump will now pressure Zelenskyy to make territorial concessions to reach a deal," sources familiar with the matter report.