Reuters: US officials caution Kiev about making excessive demands
During this week's discussions, the US is allegedly looking for concessions from Ukraine, indicating its willingness to pursue peace. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump is reportedly aiming to secure concessions from Ukraine as an indication of its readiness for “a realistic” peace.
According to insider sources speaking to Reuters, US President Donald Trump's team would interpret Ukraine's demand for the return of land currently held by Russia as a sign that Kiev is not genuinely pursuing peace.
Two US officials, who requested anonymity, outlined Washington’s expectations in advance of high-level discussions with a Ukrainian delegation scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. One source noted, “You can’t say ‘I want peace,’ and, ‘I refuse to compromise on anything’.” The other emphasized Trump’s vision for a “realistic peace,” adding, “If they [Ukrainians] are only interested in 2014 or 2022 borders, that tells you something.”
In 2014, Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia following a Western-supported coup in Kiev, while two eastern regions declared independence, rejecting the new authorities. In the escalation of the conflict in 2022, the two Donbass regions, along with two others, held referendums to join Russia, which Moscow now recognizes as its territory.
Kiev maintains sovereignty over all former Ukrainian lands, asserting that the votes were “a sham” and not authentic expressions of self-determination by disenfranchised citizens. Conversely, Moscow contends that the status of the newly claimed Russian regions is non-negotiable.
The forthcoming round of Russian-American negotiations comes after a strained visit by Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky to the White House last month. The visit ended prematurely when Zelensky publicly doubted the US administration’s capability to negotiate with Moscow, leading to a failed meeting and derailing plans for a minerals agreement that Washington views as crucial for recuperating expenses incurred in supporting Kiev during the conflict.
The EU and the UK have condemned Trump for suspending arms and intelligence support to Ukraine, viewing it as a tactic to push Zelensky towards making concessions. They have expressed a commitment to ensuring long-term security for Ukraine, conditional on a ceasefire with Moscow and ongoing US support.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to insider sources speaking to Reuters, US President Donald Trump's team would interpret Ukraine's demand for the return of land currently held by Russia as a sign that Kiev is not genuinely pursuing peace.
Two US officials, who requested anonymity, outlined Washington’s expectations in advance of high-level discussions with a Ukrainian delegation scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. One source noted, “You can’t say ‘I want peace,’ and, ‘I refuse to compromise on anything’.” The other emphasized Trump’s vision for a “realistic peace,” adding, “If they [Ukrainians] are only interested in 2014 or 2022 borders, that tells you something.”
In 2014, Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia following a Western-supported coup in Kiev, while two eastern regions declared independence, rejecting the new authorities. In the escalation of the conflict in 2022, the two Donbass regions, along with two others, held referendums to join Russia, which Moscow now recognizes as its territory.
Kiev maintains sovereignty over all former Ukrainian lands, asserting that the votes were “a sham” and not authentic expressions of self-determination by disenfranchised citizens. Conversely, Moscow contends that the status of the newly claimed Russian regions is non-negotiable.
The forthcoming round of Russian-American negotiations comes after a strained visit by Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky to the White House last month. The visit ended prematurely when Zelensky publicly doubted the US administration’s capability to negotiate with Moscow, leading to a failed meeting and derailing plans for a minerals agreement that Washington views as crucial for recuperating expenses incurred in supporting Kiev during the conflict.
The EU and the UK have condemned Trump for suspending arms and intelligence support to Ukraine, viewing it as a tactic to push Zelensky towards making concessions. They have expressed a commitment to ensuring long-term security for Ukraine, conditional on a ceasefire with Moscow and ongoing US support.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
