Negotiations in Focus: Trump Aims for Ukrainian Territory Recovery

In a recent news conference, President Trump announced his intention to seek the return of territory occupied by Russia during his meeting with President Putin, emphasizing the importance of Ukrainian input in any agreements.

US President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his ambition to reclaim territory for Ukraine during his impending discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday. “Russia's occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They occupied prime territory. We're going to try to get some of that territory back for Ukraine,” Trump stated at a news conference. He characterized the meeting as a tentative “feel-out” session aimed at persuading Putin to consider ending the ongoing conflict, hinting at potential land swaps as part of the negotiation process. Additionally, Trump indicated he would relay any significant proposals by Putin to European leaders, noting a respectful communication approach with Ukrainian President Zelensky. “I'll call him first... I'll call him after, and I may say, 'lots of luck, keep fighting,' or I may say, 'we can make a deal,” Trump remarked. The Alaska summit comes after Trump set a self-imposed deadline, demanding Russia agree to a ceasefire or face increased US sanctions. In response to the summit, Zelensky asserted that any agreements made without Kyiv's participation would be rendered ineffective, underscoring the necessity of inclusivity in the peace negotiations.