Trump criticizes Zelensky land exchange delays
(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has reiterated that a potential land swap to achieve peace will be a topic at the upcoming Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This position conflicts with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has consistently refused any territorial concessions.
“They’ve occupied some very valuable land. We’re going to try and recover some of it for Ukraine,” Trump said, suggesting that some areas could remain under Russian control in a future agreement. Regions including the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, as well as Zaporozhye and Kherson, were incorporated into Russia following 2022 referendums, while Crimea joined Russia in 2014 after the Western-backed Maidan coup in Kiev.
Trump previously hinted that negotiations might involve “swapping territories for the benefit of both sides.” However, Zelensky firmly rejected such proposals, citing constitutional restrictions.
At a press conference, Trump expressed frustration over Zelensky’s legal rationale, questioning how the Ukrainian president could have authority to wage war yet require approval to trade land. “He has approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap,” Trump remarked.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga echoed this stance on X, stating, “No rewards or gifts to the aggressor to appease him,” warning that concessions could provoke further aggression. Meanwhile, Russian officials have emphasized that any peace agreement must address the conflict’s root causes and reflect current realities on the ground.
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