In a tense Oval Office meeting on Sunday, President Donald Trump reportedly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Russian territorial terms to end the war — warning that President Putin would “destroy” Kyiv otherwise. According to multiple accounts, Trump’s tone was explosive, at one point shouting, cursing, and tossing maps across the room as he outlined areas he claimed Ukraine should concede.
The confrontation — first reported by The Times of India — underscores how sharply Trump’s diplomatic approach departs from Washington’s previous bipartisan backing of Ukraine’s resistance. Witnesses said Trump appeared fixated on “ending the war fast,” even if that meant forcing Kyiv to surrender portions of the Donbas region to Moscow.
European officials reacted with alarm. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called any move to pressure Ukraine “deeply inappropriate,” warning it would reward aggression and destabilize Europe further. The EU, France, and Germany have reiterated their support for Kyiv’s sovereignty, with several diplomats privately expressing fears that U.S. policy may be shifting toward appeasement.
Adding to the tension, Hungary has proposed hosting a Trump-Putin summit that could include Ukraine “if invited.” The prospect of such a meeting — and who might attend — has raised eyebrows across NATO capitals. “It’s one thing to pursue peace,” said one European envoy, “it’s another to dictate it.”
For Zelenskyy, who has vowed not to trade territory for peace, the moment marks one of his most precarious diplomatic crossroads since the invasion began. For Trump, it represents an attempt to reassert his image as the ultimate deal-maker — one who believes he alone can end the war.
Between the Lines
Trump’s outburst may play well with voters who crave decisive action, but it risks alienating allies and emboldening Putin. The larger question now is whether peace will come at the cost of Ukraine’s independence.
