**EU and Ukraine Reject Putin’s Ceasefire Proposal, Present Counteroffer to US Ahead of Trump-Putin Meeting**
In a major development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, European Union (EU) officials and Ukrainian leaders have rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a full ceasefire in exchange for ceding control of several regions. Instead, they presented a counterproposal to US officials ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Putin on August 15 in Alaska.
Putin had reportedly told US envoy Rickert Wikoff that Russia would agree to a full ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew its forces from the Donetsk Oblast, giving Moscow control over Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, as well as Crimea. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected this idea on August 9, stating that ceding any Ukrainian territory was unacceptable.
**A Unified Front Against Russia**
The EU and Ukraine have presented a united front against Putin’s proposal, with European officials seeking to draw a “red line” that would ensure Kyiv’s participation in any future peace negotiations with Russia. This development comes as Trump has suggested that he may include Ukraine in future talks only after an initial meeting with Putin.
Two European officials familiar with the talks told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that the EU aims to establish a unified position on this issue, stating that any potential peace negotiation with Russia must involve Kyiv. This stance is seen as crucial in preventing Russia from unilaterally dictating terms and securing concessions from Ukraine without its participation.
**A Reciprocal Ceasefire**
The counterproposal presented by the EU and Ukraine demands that a ceasefire be enacted before further steps are taken, and that territory can only be exchanged on a reciprocal basis. This means that any exchange of land would require mutual agreement between Russia and Ukraine, rather than simply being imposed by Moscow.
“We can’t start a process by ceding territory in the middle of fighting,” said one European negotiator, echoing the sentiment expressed by EU officials that any agreement reached without Kyiv’s participation would be unacceptable.
**Trump’s Comments on Territory Swapping**
Meanwhile, Trump has suggested that territory swapping may be a possibility in future negotiations with Russia. However, this idea has been met with skepticism by Ukrainian leaders and EU officials, who see it as an attempt to legitimize Russia’s territorial ambitions at Ukraine’s expense.
When asked about the proposal during a press conference on August 8, Trump said: “Well you’re looking at territory that’s been fought over for three-and-a-half years… So we’re looking at that, but we’re actually looking to get some back. Some swapping, it’s complicated.”
**A Strong Message from Kyiv**
Zelensky has made it clear that Ukraine will not compromise on its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Throughout the day on August 9, he held calls with European leaders, including those of France, the UK, Finland, Spain, Denmark, and Estonia, to seek a unified approach to the proposals.
A senior European official told WSJ that any agreement reached in Alaska between the US and Russia would hold little weight without the participation of European leaders. This underscores the importance of EU unity in this matter and the need for collective action against Russia’s maximalist demands.
**Previous Rounds of Negotiations Fail**
Russia has previously held three rounds of negotiations on an end to the war, but each round failed to halt hostilities amid Moscow’s refusal to implement a ceasefire. Kyiv and Moscow have been unable to agree on preconditions for peace, with Ukraine insisting that any agreement must involve mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The fate of the conflict hangs in the balance as US officials consider Putin’s proposal and the EU presents its counteroffer.
