Trump ‘Sick of Meetings’ Demands Rapid Ukraine Settlement Amid Disputes Over Territorial Concessions

US President Donald Trump expressed extreme frustration with both Russia and Ukraine on Thursday, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealing that he is "sick of meetings just for the sake of meeting" and demands immediate action to halt the nearly four-year conflict that has devastated eastern and southern Ukraine. Trump has warned that prolonged fighting risks escalating into a third world war, citing over 25,000 deaths last month alone, mostly soldiers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that Washington continues to advocate for Kyiv's unilateral troop withdrawal from parts of the Donetsk region to establish a demilitarised "free economic zone" as a buffer, while Russia retains positions in the annexed south and pulls back only from unclaimed northern areas like Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk. Zelenskyy rejected the proposal as unbalanced, questioning why Moscow faces no reciprocal retreat and insisting that any territorial decisions require a Ukrainian referendum or election for public legitimacy.

Ukraine submitted a 20-point counter-proposal this week, highlighting disputes over Donetsk territories and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where Russian forces maintain control despite international concerns over safety and operations. Zelenskyy emphasised his lack of constitutional or moral authority to cede land, with Ukrainian forces still holding about one-fifth of Donetsk according to Institute for the Study of War data, even as Russia advances at its fastest pace in a year and claims capture of Siversk – a assertion denied by Kyiv's eastern command.

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European allies, after a video conference on the proposals, described the situation as a "pivotal moment" for Ukraine's security and the broader Euro-Atlantic region. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the coming week proves decisive for a "just and sustainable peace" that avoids sowing seeds of future conflict, while British officials urged coordinated support. Trump has sidelined Europe in favour of direct shuttle diplomacy via envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, aiming for deal contours by Christmas despite stalled progress.

The diplomatic push unfolds against a grim backdrop, with tens of thousands killed, millions displaced, and Russian numerical superiority enabling grinding advances that have decimated infrastructure. In Kyiv, a suspected terror attack involving a double bomb blast claimed one serviceman's life and injured four others, as reported by city prosecutors, underscoring the war's unrelenting toll even as peace negotiations falter.

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