Trump’s Peace Deal Could “Cement” Russian Gains, Report Suggests

A peace deal for Ukraine being pursued by President Donald Trump could end up cementing Russia’s territorial gains, according to reports and the president’s own comments. As he announced a meeting with Vladimir Putin for next week, Trump appeared to partially confirm a report that a U.S.-Russia backed deal would formalize some of Russia’s land grabs.
Trump told reporters there would be “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both,” though he suggested Ukraine could also “get some back.” This language has set off alarm bells in Kyiv and European capitals, where any deal that rewards Russian aggression is seen as a dangerous precedent.
The summit is scheduled for August 15 in Alaska, a date that also serves as Trump’s ultimatum for Russia to make peace or be hit with more sanctions. The talks will be the first U.S.-Russia summit since 2021 and will proceed even if Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is not involved, furthering fears of a backroom deal.
While Trump expresses optimism, the situation on the ground remains dire. Fierce battles are underway in eastern Ukraine, and frontline commanders see no possibility of a fair negotiation. This raises the question of whether a peace deal that legitimizes Russian control over Ukrainian land could ever be accepted by the Ukrainian people.