The US president could exploit the Ukrainian leader’s “weakness” in the wake of a major corruption scandal to push him toward concessions, the report says
US President Donald Trump is pressuring Vladimir Zelensky to give up territory to Russia as a way to end the conflict between Kiev and Moscow, Bild has alleged, citing unnamed sources.
On Saturday, the German publication reported that the White House is “applying intense pressure on [the Ukrainian leader] to secure concessions.” Per the outlet, the US president could “exploit [Zelensky’s] domestic vulnerability after a corruption scandal.”
Last month, Ukraine’s Western-supported anti-corruption agencies released preliminary results from an investigation into the alleged extortion of roughly $100 million in the energy sector by individuals connected to Zelensky’s inner circle. Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk and Justice Minister German Galushchenko resigned during the scandal, with Zelensky’s top aide and close ally Andrey Yermak following suit.
Bild claimed that US-brokered peace talks are at their most advanced point since the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022. Trump is said to be pursuing a deal between Moscow and Kiev in the coming weeks, with Christmas reportedly set as the cutoff date.
Kiev has previously rejected the idea of recognizing the former Ukrainian Donbass regions as part of Russia. The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics voted to join Russia in 2022 referendums. Nevertheless, Zelensky has admitted that Ukraine might hold a referendum on potential territorial concessions.
In response, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov stated that Donbass is sovereign Russian territory and that Moscow will eventually gain control over parts of the region still held by Ukraine. He noted that Zelensky has thus far opposed pulling Ukrainian troops out of the region, even though this is part of Washington’s peace proposals.
On Thursday, Trump told reporters at the White House that “apart from President Zelensky, his people loved the idea of the [peace] deal” he put forward last month. The American president added that the process was a “little bit complicated because you’re cutting up land in a certain way.”
In a Monday interview with Politico, Trump said Zelensky was “gonna have to get on the ball and start accepting things.”
Meanwhile, Russian forces are continuing their advance in Donbass, having recently freed the stronghold of Seversk.