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Trump Ukraine Plan: US Presses Kyiv to Hand Donbas to Russia

The Trump Ukraine plan pressures Kyiv to abandon the Donbas, echoing Kremlin demands and drawing criticism over US alignment with Moscow

The Trump Ukraine plan has resurfaced at the centre of high-stakes diplomacy, drawing sharp criticism for its apparent alignment with Moscow’s territorial demands. During talks held in Berlin, US envoys reiterated to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kyiv should relinquish control of the Donbas regions still held by Ukrainian forces.

Zelensky met over two days with Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser. According to a senior official familiar with the discussions, quoted by AFP, the American delegation insisted that Ukraine withdraw from parts of the Donbas as a prerequisite for any ceasefire.

At the heart of the talks was the Trump Ukraine plan, which continues to prioritise territorial concessions as the price for ending the war. “Putin wants territory. The Americans are saying Ukraine must pull back — something Kyiv refuses to do,” the source said, adding that Washington’s stance mirrors Russia’s position in a way many in Kyiv find alarming.

Kyiv rejects Donbas withdrawal

Ukraine’s position remains unchanged. President Zelensky has repeatedly stressed that freezing the front line could open the door to negotiations, but not at the cost of surrendering sovereign territory. Under the Trump Ukraine plan, Ukrainian forces would retreat, while Russian troops would remain in occupied areas, separated by a demilitarised buffer zone.

For Kyiv, such an arrangement would legitimise Russia’s gains and reward aggression. Ukrainian officials argue that accepting the plan would undermine international law and set a dangerous precedent for future conflicts.

A plan welcomed in Moscow

While deeply controversial in Kyiv, the Trump Ukraine plan has been warmly received in Moscow. Russian officials have made it clear they will oppose any amendments that dilute the proposal. In an interview with Kremlin-favoured journalist Pavel Zarubin, Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy adviser to President Vladimir Putin, said Russia would reject any negotiations over territorial issues or the status of the Donbas.

Moscow’s endorsement of the plan has fuelled criticism that Trump’s approach effectively adopts the Kremlin’s narrative, sidelining Ukraine’s security concerns in favour of a rapid but fragile ceasefire.

Growing concern over US positioning

The Berlin talks have intensified unease among Ukrainian and European officials, who see the Trump Ukraine plan as disproportionately favouring Russia. Critics argue that Washington’s pressure on Kyiv, rather than Moscow, risks weakening Ukraine’s negotiating position while emboldening the Kremlin.

As diplomacy continues, the divide remains stark: the United States, under Trump’s influence, appears determined to push a settlement built on territorial compromise, while Ukraine insists that peace cannot come at the expense of its sovereignty. The Trump Ukraine plan, far from resolving the conflict, may now be deepening mistrust between allies at a critical moment.

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