Trump meets with Zelensky: Ukraine may lose territories.

According to ТСН: The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida took place in a positive atmosphere. This was their sixth meeting in a year when relations between Kyiv and Washington needed restoration.

According to reports, Zelensky that day was dressed in a black suit, similar to the one he wore during his visit to the White House in October. Trump described the meeting as 'great' and asked if they enjoyed the food served to them at lunch in Mar-a-Lago. This was nothing like the humiliation the Ukrainian leader faced earlier.

'Yet, beneath the mask of politeness, the rhetoric of the US president hinted that his default position in negotiations still involves pressing Kyiv while soothing Moscow.'

Territorial Issue

One of the most complex issues pertained to territory. Trump hinted that territory could be 'taken away' in the coming months, asking, 'Would it be better for you to make a deal now?'. This phrase echoes a statement made by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, who spoke about the necessity for the Ukrainian authorities to decide on Donbas.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Trump 'seemingly reminded the Ukrainian side that Ukraine is losing land and will continue to lose it.'

'The Kremlin was already confident in its ability to influence the US president. Ahead of the summit in Alaska, European leaders tried to convince Trump of the necessity for a ceasefire before peace negotiations, which Moscow has always rejected. Ultimately, Putin won this argument. More than four months later, Trump still seems to support his point of view.'

Currently, Ukraine reportedly appears more open to discussing territorial concessions. Zelensky noted that renouncing territory or changing its status would likely require a referendum, but without a ceasefire agreement lasting at least 60 days, this will not happen.

The absence of a ceasefire means no referendum, and thus the possibility of no territorial concessions from Ukraine.

The US president also spoke positively about Putin’s actions regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia captured in March 2022.

Security Guarantees

Regarding the important issue of security guarantees, some progress has been made. Earlier, Kyiv had only verbal guarantees of US participation in post-war security guarantees, but now these guarantees have become written, although limited to a 15-year term that Zelensky seeks to extend.

'As long as Russia and Ukraine cannot meet for direct negotiations, which may occur in January after discussions with allies, all of this remains hypothetical. This prospect looks even more remote after the accusation against Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the attack on Putin's residence.'

The Kremlin reiterated its desire for the 'withdrawal of armed forces from Donbas beyond their administrative borders,' which includes territory that the Russian Federation has failed to occupy during four years of war.

'However, in this predictable cycle, one cannot rule out sudden changes. In October, Trump imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies, resulting in a drop in Russian oil prices to the lowest levels since the invasion in February 2022.'

It should be noted that during the new meeting between Zelensky and Trump, both presidents emphasized that the process is complicated and requires more time. Trump, despite a lack of certainty, expressed optimistic sentiments regarding the situation.

The meeting between the US and Ukrainian presidents underscores the importance of restoring dialogue and supporting Ukraine's resilience amidst ongoing aggression. The further development of events will depend on the positions of both countries and efforts to find a common solution to energy and territorial issues. At the same time, the Ukrainian leadership keeps the possibilities for dialogue and conflict resolution open, hoping for the support of international partners.