Donald Trump said earlier this month that he was “okay” with Ukraine not joining the NATO military alliance, a sticking point for Russia.
As he announced he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to start talks to broker a peace deal, seemingly without Ukraine being involved in the discussions, he added it was unlikely Kyiv would get back all the land illegally occupied by Kremlin forces.
Even before his return to the Oval Office, Mr Trump had suggested Kyiv may need to compromise to end the war, which was brought upon Ukraine by the illegal invasion ordered by Moscow three years ago today.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vehemently rejected any such compromise, arguing that conceding land would legitimise Russia’s invasion and embolden further aggression.
Ukraine’s leadership insists any peace settlement must be based on fully restoring its internationally recognised borders and that NATO membership remains a key long-term objective for security.
Support for Ukraine remains strong within Europe, with leaders such as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirming their commitment to military aid.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has also dismissed the idea of forcing Ukraine into territorial concessions, warning that allowing Russia to dictate the outcome would set a dangerous precedent for global security.
Yet, Mr Trump’s decision to reopen a dialogue with Kremlin has dragged back from isolation Putin. The US President’s recent attacks on the Ukrainian leadership and Mr Zelensky have also sparked concerns Washington may be taking a distance not just from Ukraine but also from Europe.
What do you think? Should Kyiv consider territorial concessions and abandon its NATO ambitions to end the conflict sooner, or should it continue fighting for its sovereignty at all costs? If you can’t see our poll above, click here.
