Trump Reportedly Urges Zelenskyy to Accept Putin’s Terms or Risk Ukraine’s ‘Destruction’

WASHINGTON, Oct 20: U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Moscow’s conditions to end the ongoing war with Russia, including ceding control of the entire Donbas region, during a meeting at the White House last Friday.

According to a report by the Financial Times published on Sunday, Trump warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would “destroy Ukraine” if Kyiv refused to comply with the Kremlin’s demands.

Sources familiar with the meeting said Trump repeatedly echoed arguments made by Putin in a phone conversation the day before, insisting that Zelenskyy should agree to hand over eastern Donbas territory to Russia as part of a peace settlement.

The Financial Times report noted that Trump framed his message as a “realistic path toward peace,” suggesting that further resistance would lead to catastrophic consequences for Ukraine.

While details of the meeting remain confidential, diplomatic observers said the exchange underscores Trump’s willingness to push Kyiv toward concessions that align closely with Moscow’s long-standing objectives.

Neither the White House nor the Ukrainian government has publicly commented on the report. However, officials in Kyiv have consistently maintained that Ukraine will not surrender any territory as part of a peace deal, vowing to defend its sovereignty against Russian aggression.

Analysts say Trump’s remarks, if confirmed, could mark a significant shift in Washington’s stance toward the conflict, potentially alarming U.S. allies who have strongly backed Ukraine’s territorial integrity since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

— Voice of Malaysia News