US President Donald Trump has made a controversial revelation about ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, suggesting that negotiators have already discussed “dividing up certain assets” between the two countries.
Trump’s comments, made on March 17, come ahead of his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18.
Trump, who has been pushing for a swift resolution to the war, announced that Ukraine had accepted a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, putting pressure on Russia to respond.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated that discussions were progressing well.
“We’re doing pretty well, I think, with Russia. We’ll see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday. I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday,” he said.
He added that significant discussions had already taken place, particularly about territorial disputes and resources, saying, “A lot of work’s been done over the weekend, we want to see if we can bring that war to an end.”
Trump emphasized that both sides—Ukraine and Russia—had already discussed key issues such as land and power plants, which have become central to the peace talks. “We’re already talking about that—dividing up certain assets,” he revealed.
Trump’s comments hint at a shift in the negotiations, where land and resources may play a pivotal role in reaching a ceasefire agreement.
However, the notion of land concessions has proven to be highly sensitive, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejecting any territorial loss as part of a peace settlement.
Since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine has lost approximately 11% of its territory, a fact that weighs heavily on the ongoing conflict.
Russian President Putin’s response to the ceasefire proposal has been lukewarm. While he has acknowledged the proposal in principle, he has set forth tough conditions, including significant concessions from Ukraine.
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These demands are rooted in Russia’s longstanding claim that the Ukrainian government is a major cause of the war.
Trump’s approach to peace talks and his apparent willingness to make concessions to Moscow have raised concerns among NATO allies, particularly in Europe.
Many are worried that the US might be distancing itself from its long-standing security commitments to the region, especially as Trump continues to embrace Putin despite his aggressive actions in Ukraine.
Putin, in his remarks on Friday, also pointed to a potential thaw in US-Russia relations, which had deteriorated during the previous US administration.
“Overall, the situation is starting to move,” Putin said, indicating a possible shift in diplomatic ties as Trump prepares for his upcoming talks with the Russian leader.
As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches closely to see if Trump’s approach can bring about a breakthrough in the conflict or if the delicate issues of land and power will remain insurmountable obstacles to peace.
