Trump warns Russia must give up all of Ukraine to reach peace agreement

US President Donald Trump has stated that Russia's ambitions go beyond the territories it currently occupies in Ukraine, asserting that Moscow seeks to seize the entire nation.

In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Trump emphasized that without his intervention, Russia would already be pursuing control of all of Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports citing Ukrainian media.

Trump's comments come amid continued tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. According to the president, if Moscow is to reach a peace agreement, it will have to abandon its broader territorial ambitions.

"Russia will have to give up all of Ukraine. Because that's what they want," Trump said. He elaborated on the situation, claiming that without his role in the conflict, Russia would be focused on capturing the entire Ukrainian territory.

When asked if he was referring to all of Ukraine, not just the regions currently under Russian control, Trump was emphatic: "No, no. Russia will have to give up all of Ukraine. Because Russia wants all of Ukraine."

Trump also revealed that European Union leaders have frequently asked him to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin, given that Putin had reportedly been avoiding calls from EU leadership. The president highlighted the strained communications between Russia and the EU as a key point of diplomatic concern.

In a related matter, Trump recalled that the White House had previously offered Ukraine a "peace plan," suggesting that Kyiv could potentially cede a portion of its territory—at least a fifth of the country—in exchange for an end to the conflict. This proposal aligns with Trump's controversial stance that Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, will remain under Russian control.

Trump stated that Crimea will remain under the control of Russia, citing that Zelensky understands this. He added that the peninsula passed to the Russians during the Obama era.

By Vafa Guliyeva