Kremlin Rejects Trump's 'Stop at the Battle Line' Peace Proposal, Demands Full Donetsk Control

Trump's Diplomatic Push for Ukraine Peace

US President Donald Trump initiated a new diplomatic push to end the conflict in Ukraine, culminating in a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on October 17, 2025, in Washington. During this meeting, Trump reportedly urged both Ukraine and Russia to 'stop the war immediately,' suggesting a ceasefire along the current battle lines. He publicly stated, 'They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!' This overture followed a phone call on October 16 between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they agreed to an upcoming summit in Budapest to discuss peace.

Kremlin's Stance: A Demand for Capitulation

Despite initial welcoming remarks from the Kremlin regarding Trump's intentions for peace talks, Russia's specific demands have effectively rejected the premise of Trump's 'stop at the battle line' proposal. According to a detailed report by The Washington Post, citing senior US officials, President Putin directly demanded that Ukraine surrender full control of the entire Donetsk region as a core condition for ending the war during his recent call with Trump. This demand, revealed after Trump's public statements, underscores Moscow's unwavering commitment to its maximalist objectives. Putin reportedly indicated a willingness to cede parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in exchange for complete control over Donetsk, a proposal viewed by some European diplomats as akin to 'selling them their own leg in exchange for nothing.'

Russia's Long-Standing War Demands

The demand for full control of Donetsk aligns with Russia's consistent conditions for a peace settlement, which analysts have long characterized as calls for Ukraine's capitulation. These demands, reiterated on numerous occasions, include:

• Territorial Concessions: Ukraine must legally recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
• Neutrality and Demilitarization: Ukraine must officially abandon its pursuit of NATO membership, agree not to enter military alliances with Western powers, and accept extensive limitations on the size of its armed forces and types of weapons systems.
• Political and Cultural Changes: Moscow also demands Ukraine grant Russian the status of an official state language, reinstate privileges of the Russian Orthodox Church, adopt a Kremlin-friendly version of Ukrainian history, and ban 'nationalist' Ukrainian political parties.

Implications for Future Peace Efforts

The Kremlin's insistence on these terms, particularly the demand for full control of Donetsk, presents a significant obstacle to any peace initiative based on a ceasefire along current front lines. While President Trump expressed optimism about brokering a deal, the divergence between his proposed approach and Russia's non-negotiable demands highlights the immense challenges ahead for the planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, who left his meeting with Trump without a commitment for long-range Tomahawk missiles, now faces a diplomatic landscape where Russia continues to push for terms that would fundamentally undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.