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Germany’s defense minister has issued a cautionary note to Ukraine regarding potential territorial concessions in exchange for a ceasefire with Russia. Boris Pistorius emphasized that Ukraine should avoid the latest proposal from the American president, labeling it as a form of “capitulation.”
U.S. President Donald Trump recently indicated that a significant number of the deal’s major points have already been agreed upon. Reports suggest that Ukraine might be pressured to relinquish large territories, including Crimea, which have been seized by Russian forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has steadfastly rejected the notion of territorial give-backs, stating that discussions about land can only take place following a ceasefire agreement.
During a recent interview with German public broadcaster ARD, Pistorius acknowledged that Kyiv might need to consider giving up some territory to achieve peace. However, he strongly advised against agreeing to the latest American proposal. “What was included in that proposal a year ago amounts to a capitulation. I see no added value in it,” he remarked.
The precise details of the latest U.S. plan have not been disclosed. However, reports from Reuters indicate that the proposal includes an American legal acknowledgment of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, as well as a de facto recognition of Russian control over other occupied regions, including all of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.
Reports further indicate that European and Ukrainian counter-proposals maintain that discussions about occupied Ukrainian territory should only commence after a ceasefire is established. The U.S. plan also precludes Ukraine’s accession to the NATO military alliance, instead advocating for a “coalition of the willing,” led by the UK and France, to provide security guarantees in the absence of direct U.S. involvement.
In contrast, European leaders are urging the U.S. to offer “robust” guarantees similar to NATO commitments, ensuring assistance to Ukraine in the event of an attack.
Additionally, the U.S. is suggested to propose taking control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, currently under Russian occupation, with plans for it to supply electricity to both nations. The European counter-proposal does not involve granting Russia such power.
In a recent interview with Time magazine, Trump reiterated his stance that Kyiv’s aspirations to join NATO initiated the conflict and asserted that “Crimea will stay with Russia.”
On a diplomatic front, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently called for both Russia and Ukraine to expedite a peace deal, stating, “It needs to happen soon. We cannot continue to dedicate time and resources to this effort if it’s not going to come to fruition.”
The U.S. has signaled it may withdraw from negotiations if progress remains stagnant, a warning that follows a recent face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Trump at the Vatican during the Pope’s funeral. The White House characterized this meeting as “very productive,” while Zelensky suggested it had the “potential to become historic.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has managed to assert control over nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory.
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