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Tuesday, Dec 30, 2025
Outside the box.
Trump’s Ukraine Peace Initiative Encounters Fresh Setbacks After Call With Putin
Efforts to finalise a peace deal are hampered by Russian demands and unresolved territorial issues following high-level talks
President Donald Trump’s bid to secure an end to the war in Ukraine has encountered significant obstacles following a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as core differences over territorial control and security arrangements persist.
The call came ahead of a high-profile meeting in Florida between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where both leaders expressed optimism about nearing agreement on a peace framework but acknowledged that tough issues remain unresolved.
Russian officials have insisted that Ukraine should withdraw its forces from the Donbas region – territory where Moscow now controls the vast majority – as a prerequisite for progress, a stance that Kyiv has firmly rejected and which complicates prospects for a negotiated settlement.
Statements from the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow expects Ukraine to make concessions in the east or risk further territorial losses if it does not engage constructively in talks, heightening tensions around what a peace accord would entail.
In Miami, Trump said he believes both Ukraine and Russia want to find a deal, but he acknowledged that hard questions, particularly about contested regions, have yet to be settled and could delay any final agreement.
Ukrainian leaders have welcomed discussions on security guarantees and reconstruction support but have stressed that territorial integrity and national sovereignty must be upheld in any lasting peace.
The absence of a ceasefire agreement and continuing hostilities on the ground underscore the fragility of the negotiating process and the deep divisions between the parties.
European allies and other stakeholders have voiced cautious support for diplomatic engagement while urging clarity on security commitments and mechanisms for enforcement.
As Trump prepares further diplomatic engagements, including follow-up conversations with Putin and consultations with European partners, the path to a durable peace remains uncertain, with key structural issues still to be resolved before a comprehensive deal can be finalised.
The call came ahead of a high-profile meeting in Florida between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where both leaders expressed optimism about nearing agreement on a peace framework but acknowledged that tough issues remain unresolved.
Russian officials have insisted that Ukraine should withdraw its forces from the Donbas region – territory where Moscow now controls the vast majority – as a prerequisite for progress, a stance that Kyiv has firmly rejected and which complicates prospects for a negotiated settlement.
Statements from the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow expects Ukraine to make concessions in the east or risk further territorial losses if it does not engage constructively in talks, heightening tensions around what a peace accord would entail.
In Miami, Trump said he believes both Ukraine and Russia want to find a deal, but he acknowledged that hard questions, particularly about contested regions, have yet to be settled and could delay any final agreement.
Ukrainian leaders have welcomed discussions on security guarantees and reconstruction support but have stressed that territorial integrity and national sovereignty must be upheld in any lasting peace.
The absence of a ceasefire agreement and continuing hostilities on the ground underscore the fragility of the negotiating process and the deep divisions between the parties.
European allies and other stakeholders have voiced cautious support for diplomatic engagement while urging clarity on security commitments and mechanisms for enforcement.
As Trump prepares further diplomatic engagements, including follow-up conversations with Putin and consultations with European partners, the path to a durable peace remains uncertain, with key structural issues still to be resolved before a comprehensive deal can be finalised.
