Trump Administration Considers Major Concessions to End Ukraine War
Reports indicate that the Trump administration is preparing to recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea and formally block Ukraine’s path to NATO membership in a bid to end the ongoing war. On Monday, the Kremlin welcomed a U.S. proposal to bar Ukraine from joining the alliance.
“We have heard at various levels from Washington that Ukraine’s NATO membership is off the table,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “This aligns with our position and brings us satisfaction.”
Former President Donald Trump, now leading efforts to broker peace, has previously argued that U.S. support for Ukraine’s NATO aspirations helped trigger the war. On Sunday, U.S. envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg confirmed that NATO membership was no longer under consideration for Ukraine.
The White House is reportedly growing frustrated with the slow pace of peace talks. Trump has claimed he could end the war within 24 hours of returning to office, but intense fighting has continued for months.
Despite a one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violations. The U.S. has expressed support for extending the truce, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is open to a 30-day halt in hostilities. However, the Kremlin said no extension had been ordered.
Ukrainian officials reported new Russian airstrikes on Monday, including three missile attacks in the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv, and 96 Shahed drones launched across the country. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces endured over 1,800 Russian strikes and nearly 100 assault operations during the truce.
“Our actions will mirror Russia’s,” Zelensky said. “We’ll respond to silence with silence, and defend ourselves against every attack.”
Putin rejected claims that Russia was responsible for renewed violence, insisting Moscow supported the ceasefire.
U.S. media reports suggest the Trump team is offering two key incentives to secure a peace deal: NATO neutrality for Ukraine and U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. When asked about the U.S. stance on Crimea, Peskov declined to comment, saying negotiations should remain confidential.
Trump posted late Sunday on Truth Social that he hoped to reach a deal by week’s end—his first public statement since Putin declared the ceasefire. Just a day earlier, Trump had threatened to abandon peace talks if a ceasefire wasn’t agreed upon soon.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to deepen its ties with Iran. On Monday, Putin signed a law ratifying a 20-year strategic partnership with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, first agreed upon in January.
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