US plans to discuss territorial swap between Russia, Ukraine During Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

The United States intends to raise the issue of a potential territorial exchange between Russia and Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on August 18.

U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff said the territorial swap is “the main issue” for resolving the ongoing conflict.

Speaking on CNN, Witkoff stated: “We plan to discuss this on Monday. I hope we achieve some clarity on this matter, and, hopefully, it all leads to a peaceful deal very soon.”

On August 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., to discuss strategies for ending Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. This meeting follows a recent U.S.-Russia summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025, where Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to secure a ceasefire agreement.

The Alaska summit, marked by high-profile diplomacy but no concrete outcomes, has shifted focus to a broader peace agreement rather than a temporary truce, aligning with Putin’s stated preference for a long-term settlement that accounts for Russian interests.

By Khagan Isayev