Trump Suggests Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Involve ‘Dividing Up Assets,’ Raising Concerns
US President Donald Trump revealed on Sunday that negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war have already touched on “dividing up certain assets,” a remark that has sparked intense debate over the potential implications of territorial concessions. Trump also announced plans to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, further heightening global scrutiny of the peace talks.
Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning to the White House from Mar-a-Lago, Trump suggested that discussions had progressed significantly. “We’re doing pretty well, I think, with Russia. We’ll see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday,” he told reporters. “A lot of work’s been done over the weekend, we want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.”
However, Trump’s remarks about “dividing up certain assets” have alarmed Ukraine and its allies. “We’ll be talking about land. A lot of land is a lot different than it was before the war, as you know. We’ll be talking about land, we’ll be talking about power plants, that’s a big question,” Trump added. “But I think we have a lot of it already discussed, very much, by both sides, Ukraine and Russia.”
A Preemptive Concession to Moscow?
Trump’s statements raise concerns that Washington may be pressuring Ukraine to cede occupied territories in exchange for peace. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has lost control of approximately 11% of its territory, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War. The notion of conceding territory is widely viewed in Ukraine as unacceptable, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly vowed not to negotiate away sovereign land.
Yet, American officials have quietly signaled that Kyiv may need to make territorial compromises to end the war—an approach that many see as capitulating to Putin’s aggression. Any such concessions would mark a significant geopolitical shift, effectively legitimizing Russia’s land grabs since 2014, when it first annexed Crimea.
Putin has remained ambiguous in his response to the Trump-backed ceasefire proposal. While he initially claimed that Moscow agreed “in theory,” he later outlined conditions heavily favoring Russian interests, including demands for Ukrainian government concessions. His rhetoric has consistently framed Ukraine’s leadership as a “root cause” of the conflict, a position many analysts see as a pretext for further expansionist ambitions.
Global Repercussions and NATO Concerns
Trump’s apparent willingness to offer concessions to Moscow has sent shockwaves through NATO allies, some of whom now question the reliability of the US as a security guarantor. European leaders fear that a peace deal shaped on Trump’s terms could embolden authoritarian regimes worldwide, setting a dangerous precedent that might encourage future invasions.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff described last week’s meeting with Putin as a “solution-based discussion” and expressed confidence that a temporary pause in fighting could be reached within weeks. However, whether this would lead to a lasting peace remains uncertain, especially given Ukraine’s staunch refusal to relinquish occupied land.
Meanwhile, Putin has signaled optimism about renewed US-Russia relations under Trump’s administration. “Overall, the situation is starting to move,” he said Friday. “Let’s see what comes out of this.”
A Deal at Ukraine’s Expense?
For many, the central question remains: is this a genuine pathway to peace, or merely a thinly veiled attempt to pressure Ukraine into a settlement that favors Russia? If land concessions become a prerequisite for a ceasefire, it could redefine the global order and reward Moscow’s strategy of territorial aggression.
As Trump prepares to speak with Putin on Tuesday, the world watches closely. Will these negotiations bring an end to the war, or will they set a precedent where borders can be redrawn through force?
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Trump Suggests Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Involve ‘Dividing Up Assets,’ Raising Concerns