United States President Donald Trump has not committed to supporting Ukraine’s 20-point peace plan until his discussion with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday. Russia has criticized the plan, calling it “radically different” from the one they were working on with the US. Russia insists on maintaining full control over the region, highlighting the ongoing division between the two sides.
President Trump, in a recent conversation with POLITICO, positioned himself as the key decision-maker in any peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Despite Zelensky’s efforts to present a revised plan emphasizing a demilitarized zone and US security guarantees, Russia has shown no public willingness to compromise on control of contested areas. Trump expressed skepticism about Zelensky’s latest peace proposal, stating that approval from him is necessary for any progress.
Trump’s stance as the gatekeeper suggests that the US could leverage its diplomatic and security influence to secure Ukrainian sovereignty with enforceable guarantees. However, Trump also acknowledged the economic challenges faced by Russia, indicating a belief in the potential for productive discussions. Zelensky recently had a positive conversation with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, following which he described it as “good.”
