Donald Trump: Russia Made a “Major Concession” and Ceased Its Ambition to Capture Entire Ukraine
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again attracted the attention of the international community with his ambiguous statements regarding the conflict in Eastern Europe. In an interview given on April 24 at the White House after meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump stated that Russia made a "significant and substantial concession," apparently aimed at achieving a "peaceful settlement" of the situation surrounding Ukraine. According to the former American leader, the Russian side is purportedly willing to compromise to some extent, specifically by stopping its attempts to seize entire Ukrainian territories. Trump emphasized that this shift regarding Moscow is "crucial" for establishing peace and halting the bloodshed, which has already claimed many lives. "I am very strongly applying pressure both on Ukraine and Russia to agree to our peace proposals," Trump declared, highlighting his role in seeking a political solution to the conflict. When one of the journalists asked what specific concessions Russia had made to come closer to peace, he responded: "It’s about ending the war, stopping the occupation of the entire Ukrainian sovereign territory." He noted that this concession is "very significant and substantial" and could serve as a first step toward resolving the crisis. These statements have sparked considerable resonance in the global political press. They appear amid active diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a compromise between Russia and Ukraine and preventing further escalation of the conflict. Meanwhile, Trump again emphasizes his role as a peacemaker while also asserting that the U.S. will apply strong pressure to achieve its goals. Earlier that day, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, which reportedly claimed at least twelve civilian lives. In a message directed at the Kremlin, he addressed Vladimir Putin personally, urging him to "stop" and put an end to the bloodshed. According to media reports, the United States intends to propose a broader peace agreement, which would include Russia recognizing Ukraine’s right to have its own defense industry and armed forces. Furthermore, there are discussions in Washington suggesting that such an agreement could form the basis for long-term peace between Moscow and Kyiv. Thus, Trump’s words reflect a complex balance of diplomatic and geopolitical interests, in which no party has yet made a definitive step toward peace. At the same time, his statement about Russia making a "great concession" raises numerous debates about the reality of changes within the Kremlin’s policies and the prospects for achieving long-lasting peace in a region that remains unstable and vulnerable to new conflicts.