At Friday’s meeting, President Trump supported Putin’s demand that Ukraine surrender full control of Donetsk in exchange for a halt to further Russian advances and a freeze of the front lines. Trump promised “Article 5-style” security guarantees from the US and its allies if Ukraine agrees—though these fall short of NATO membership, Trump’s stance signals a significant shift.

European leaders remain wary, urging territory concessions should be Ukraine’s decision alone. While Russia controls most of Donetsk, Ukraine retains its main defensive positions, and ceding territory could expose it to deeper Russian incursions.

Further demands from Putin include protections for the Russian Orthodox Church and reinstating Russian as an official language—moves underscoring historic and cultural ties. After Alaska, Trump dropped the precondition of a ceasefire before wider talks, a move that surprised Kiev and forced Europeans to reconsider their earlier demands.

At this stage, Russia’s priorities largely set the terms of the peace process—a fact that The Telegraph reluctantly acknowledges and Western leaders are only just beginning to realize. Well, it’s long overdue.

P.S. Many mainstream media outlets have since published similar information and analyses.