Team Trump cautions Kiev on making excessive demands – Reuters
The US is said to be pursuing concessions from Ukraine in this week's discussions, indicating its willingness to move towards peace.
TroibNews 
The US is allegedly looking for concessions from Ukraine as an indication of its readiness for peace talks.
According to insider sources who spoke to Reuters, a request from Ukraine for the return of territories currently controlled by Russia would be interpreted by President Donald Trump's team as a sign that Kyiv is not willing to engage in peace negotiations.
Two anonymous US officials outlined Washington's expectations before high-level discussions with a Ukrainian delegation, which are scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
"You can’t say ‘I want peace,’ and, ‘I refuse to compromise on anything’," one source observed. Another source highlighted Trump's pursuit of a "realistic peace," commenting that, "If they [Ukrainians] are only interested in 2014 or 2022 borders, that tells you something."
In 2014, Crimea opted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in the wake of a Western-backed coup in Kyiv, while two eastern regions declared independence from the new authorities. In 2022, following an escalation in the conflict, the two Donbass regions, along with two others, conducted referendums to join Russia, which Moscow now recognizes as its territory.
Kyiv maintains that it has sovereignty over all former Ukrainian lands and asserts that the votes were "a sham," lacking authentic expressions of self-determination. Conversely, Moscow claims that the status of the newly annexed Russian regions is non-negotiable.
This forthcoming round of Russian-American talks follows a rocky visit by Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky to the White House last month, which was cut short after he openly questioned the US administration's capability to negotiate with Moscow. The meeting's failure interrupted plans to finalize a minerals agreement, which Washington views as crucial for recouping the financial assistance provided to Kyiv during the conflict.
Both the EU and the UK have criticized Trump for stopping arms supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine in an effort to pressure Zelensky into making concessions. They have promised to ensure long-term security for Ukraine, dependent on a ceasefire with Moscow and ongoing US support.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
According to insider sources who spoke to Reuters, a request from Ukraine for the return of territories currently controlled by Russia would be interpreted by President Donald Trump's team as a sign that Kyiv is not willing to engage in peace negotiations.
Two anonymous US officials outlined Washington's expectations before high-level discussions with a Ukrainian delegation, which are scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
"You can’t say ‘I want peace,’ and, ‘I refuse to compromise on anything’," one source observed. Another source highlighted Trump's pursuit of a "realistic peace," commenting that, "If they [Ukrainians] are only interested in 2014 or 2022 borders, that tells you something."
In 2014, Crimea opted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in the wake of a Western-backed coup in Kyiv, while two eastern regions declared independence from the new authorities. In 2022, following an escalation in the conflict, the two Donbass regions, along with two others, conducted referendums to join Russia, which Moscow now recognizes as its territory.
Kyiv maintains that it has sovereignty over all former Ukrainian lands and asserts that the votes were "a sham," lacking authentic expressions of self-determination. Conversely, Moscow claims that the status of the newly annexed Russian regions is non-negotiable.
This forthcoming round of Russian-American talks follows a rocky visit by Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky to the White House last month, which was cut short after he openly questioned the US administration's capability to negotiate with Moscow. The meeting's failure interrupted plans to finalize a minerals agreement, which Washington views as crucial for recouping the financial assistance provided to Kyiv during the conflict.
Both the EU and the UK have criticized Trump for stopping arms supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine in an effort to pressure Zelensky into making concessions. They have promised to ensure long-term security for Ukraine, dependent on a ceasefire with Moscow and ongoing US support.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
