Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled to the Trump administration that he is willing to end the war in Ukraine in exchange for full control of the Donbas region, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
The offer was reportedly made to Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, during a meeting in Moscow on Wednesday. European and Ukrainian officials said they were briefed by President Trump and Witkoff about the discussion.
Terms of Putin’s Proposal
Russia is seeking recognition of its control over Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Russian forces already hold most of Donetsk and Luhansk, though Ukrainian troops continue fighting in parts of both regions.
European leaders expressed concern that Putin’s proposal could be an attempt to avoid new penalties from President Trump, who is expected to impose secondary tariffs on Russia. They also questioned whether Putin would agree to give up claims on Ukraine’s Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.
Trump-Putin Summit Set for August 15
President Trump announced Friday that he will meet with Putin on August 15 in Alaska.
“The highly