Media: Zelenskyy cornered as Trump’s deal leaves Ukraine little room to maneuver

Former President Donald Trump’s plan to allow Russia to retain occupied Ukrainian territory is “set in stone,” according to a source close to Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy. As pressure intensifies on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept a forced peace, Trump is signalling that he may withdraw from the peace process if no agreement is reached within days.

Trump may meet Zelenskyy on April 26 in Rome, on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral. The source told The Times that Trump believes Zelenskyy “really has no choice” but to agree to the US proposal. Witkoff recently presented the plan to both Moscow and Kyiv. The reported terms include formal US recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea, annexed in 2014, and de facto acceptance of Russian control over regions of southern and eastern Ukraine occupied since the 2022 full-scale invasion.

By contrast, a rival European-Ukrainian proposal links any territorial discussions to negotiations following a ceasefire.

“Trump’s view is that this land has been seized and it is not going back,” said a source close to Witkoff. “The deal on the table is that the Russian-occupied territory is going to remain occupied. Russia’s not pulling out of it. That part is set in stone.”

US officials argue that if Ukraine rejects the deal, the war could continue for many more months or years, with Kyiv increasingly dependent on European funding and arms. “The [US] funding cut-off actually is going to have as much of an impact as the weapons cut-off [this year], because Ukraine uses that money to buy more weapons from other allies,” the source added.

When asked whether this was a “take it or leave it” offer for Zelenskyy, the source replied it was seen in Washington as “take it or take it.” American officials also believe that European public opinion is turning against the costly effort to support Ukraine, especially as Europe faces a recession — partly exacerbated by Trump’s tariffs.

In Moscow, Witkoff held three hours of talks with President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy aide who attended the talks, called the meeting “constructive and useful.” Ushakov said the discussion had brought US and Russian positions closer not only on Ukraine but on other international issues, and focused particularly on the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, British and French diplomats have been attempting to persuade Trump to meet with Zelenskyy after the funeral to ease tensions. A British diplomatic source described the event in Rome as an “obvious opportunity” for discussions, though the Italian government warned such talks could be viewed as disrespectful. According to Trump’s public schedule, he is expected to leave St. Peter’s Basilica for the airport about an hour after the funeral, leaving little time for a substantive meeting.

Zelenskyy has insisted that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits him from recognising Crimea as Russian territory and has ruled out signing any peace deal that cedes Ukrainian lands.

Trump’s hardline stance became clearer in a recent interview with Time magazine, where he said, “Crimea will stay with Russia,” and again blamed Kyiv for provoking Russia’s invasion. However, The Times understands that Trump is flexible about formal US recognition of Crimea at this stage. Rather than pressuring Zelenskyy to formally relinquish sovereignty, Trump’s aim appears to be securing acceptance of the ongoing Russian occupation.

Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa responded firmly, telling Times Radio that Ukraine would do “whatever it takes” to regain Crimea. “Our position is very clear, and our president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is very clear on that. Crimea is Ukraine. We’ll never recognise the attempted annexation by Russia. We will never recognise it as Russian territory and we will take whatever it takes … to occupy our land, our country,” Betsa said.

Her comments came hours after senior Russian general Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in a car bomb attack in Moscow, an attack that the Kremlin has blamed on Ukrainian special forces.

Adding to the complex signals from Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, suggested that Ukraine might consider conceding territory as a “temporary” solution to end the war. Speaking to the BBC, Klitschko said, “One of the scenarios is … to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution.”

However, in London, former Ukrainian armed forces commander Valery Zaluzhny took a harder line. Speaking at the UK-Ukraine Defence Tech Forum, Zaluzhny, now Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain, stated that Russia would continue its aggression unless it suffered a comprehensive defeat. “As long as the enemy has the resources, forces, and means to strike at our territory and attempt offensive actions, he will do so. This is a war of attrition,” Zaluzhny said. “Only the complete destruction of [Russia’s] ability to wage war, that is the military-economic potential, can put an end to this.”

By Tamilla Hasanova