Bloomberg: US no longer expects Ukraine to yield all territory

The White House no longer appears to expect Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to surrender all the territory demanded by Russian President Vladimir Putin — including key fortifications held by Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region — as a precondition for peace, the Bloomberg editorial board noted in its latest analysis.

According to the analysis, the priority now for Washington and its allies is to shape any potential settlement in a way that deters further Russian aggression, ensures Ukraine’s survival, and safeguards US strategic interests.

“The first and most credible security guarantee will be Ukraine’s own strength,” the editorial stated, emphasising that Washington should continue supplying Kyiv with advanced weaponry, while European nations should help finance these acquisitions.

At the same time, European states are urged to directly invest in Ukraine’s innovative but underfunded defence industry. Zelenskyy’s recent proposal to sell drones to the US, Bloomberg noted, is a reminder that “a militarily capable Ukraine can bolster, not drain, Western arsenals.”

Should Putin eventually agree to halt hostilities, the analysis argues, external deterrence mechanisms will remain essential. The editorial suggests that “Article 5-like” collective defence commitments from European allies — and ultimately the US — would send a clear message to Moscow. In parallel, European states should formulate plans for limited “tripwire” forces on Ukrainian soil to reinforce deterrence.

While American troops on the ground are not deemed necessary, the US would need to pledge robust support in intelligence and logistics, as well as rapid reinforcement in the event that those allied troops come under attack. “Only then,” the editorial board observed, “will Putin believe that violating a deal risks escalation he cannot control.”

Bloomberg stresses that this strategy is not an act of charity but “hard-headed self-interest.” Leaving Ukraine with vulnerable borders and unreliable allies, the board warned, would render any agreement short-lived.

An emboldened Russia, it added, would pose a direct threat to NATO’s eastern flank, potentially drawing the US into another European conflict at a time when Washington is striving to shift strategic focus toward China.

Furthermore, forcing Kyiv into an unfavourable settlement simply because it is “not a ‘very big power,’” the analysis cautioned, would send a dangerous signal to Beijing that coercion and force are effective, heightening the risk of a future crisis over Taiwan.

The editorial also highlights that whether Putin is prepared to accept such a settlement remains “doubtful,” underscoring the need for additional US economic pressure to alter Moscow’s calculations.

“One thing is certain,” Bloomberg concluded. “The only peace worth pursuing is one that secures Ukraine’s future while anchoring US and European security. Anything less is a trap.”

By Tamilla Hasanova