Russia is considering giving up small areas of occupied Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine would surrender larger portions of its eastern regions that the former has not yet managed to seize, recent reports indicate. These proposals are reportedly part of peace talks discussed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump at their Alaska summit on Friday.
The Alaska summit between Trump and Putin was noted as the first face-to-face encounter between a US president and the Russian leader since the Ukraine war, which began in February 2022.
Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday to meet with Trump. The purpose of this upcoming meeting is to negotiate a potential settlement to end the Ukraine war. The developments underscore ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with major negotiations now involving leaders from the United States and Russia.
Despite failing to secure a ceasefire during the high-stakes summit, Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he and Putin discussed land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine, reaching what he described as an agreement.
“I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” Trump stated, stressing that final approval would depend on Ukraine’s willingness to accept the terms. “Maybe they’ll say ‘no’,” he acknowledged.
According to two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, and familiar with US, European and Ukrainian leadership’s discussions, details of Putin’s proposals are sensitive and remain incomplete, with much of the information based on intergovernmental briefings.
Trump reportedly updated Zelenskyy and European leaders on the Alaska summit outcomes early on Saturday. However, it is not clear whether Putin’s offer was an opening negotiation strategy or a firm final proposal.
Some of the demands on the table would be nearly impossible for Ukraine’s leadership to accept. Putin’s proposal dismissed the idea of a ceasefire until a full agreement is in place, shutting down one of Zelenskyy’s core demands as Ukraine continues to face relentless Russian drone and missile strikes.
According to sources, Moscow’s plan would require Kyiv to withdraw completely from the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In exchange, Russia would agree to halt its advance and maintain current positions in the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Ukraine, however, has already rejected any withdrawal from its territory—particularly from Donetsk, where its forces remain entrenched. Officials in Kyiv argue the region is vital as a defensive stronghold that prevents deeper Russian penetration into the country.
Trump urged Ukraine on Saturday that since “Russia is a very big power, and they’re not,” the nation should reach an agreement to end the conflict with Russia.
Trump also said that he agreed with Putin that a ceasefire that Ukraine and its European allies had desired should not be a prerequisite for pursuing a peace agreement. He had previously stated that he would not be satisfied unless a truce was reached, but his stance changed after the summit.