On October 20, US President Donald Trump called on Russia and Ukraine to "freeze" the current border in Donbass, because according to him, Moscow has effectively controlled almost the entire area.
We think what they should do is stop at the existing borders. The rest is difficult to negotiate, Trump told reporters on Air Force One, calling on both sides to stall now and end it all.
When asked about the situation in Donbass, Mr. Trump replied: "Just let it be as it is. I think about 78% of the territory is in Russia. Just leave it there. They can negotiate more later".
This statement was made by Mr. Trump after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 16 and a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on October 17.
Notably, Mr. Trump's latest statement seems to be in complete contrast to the viewpoint he had previously expressed.
On September 23, Mr. Trump said that Ukraine could reclaim all Russian-controlled territories since the conflict began, although he did not specify how this would affect US policy.
Over time, patience and financial support from Europe, especially NATO, restoring the original borders is entirely possible, Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social.
At the time, the US leader even harshly criticized Russia for allowing the conflict to persist, and warned that there would be stronger measures against the Russian economy if there was no significant progress in peace efforts.
This is the time for Ukraine to act, Trump wrote.
In 2014, Donbass's Donetsk and Lugansk regions declared their independence and voted to separate from Ukraine after a Western-backed coup in Kiev. By September 2022, both regions held a popular consultation to join Russia, but Ukraine and most other countries did not recognize the new border.
Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov said in August that Ukrainian forces currently control only about 20% of the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic and less than 1% of the Lugansk People's Republic.
Mr. Putin once affirmed that to achieve a ceasefire, the Ukrainian army must withdraw completely from Donbass, and recognize Russia's new borders - a prerequisite for long-term peace.
For his part, Mr Zelensky supported Mr Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire, but resolutely refused to "grant" any more territory to Russia.
