After pledging a swift resolution to the war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration's actions on Feb. 12 appeared to weaken Ukraine’s bargaining position in peace talks, raising concerns that his approach could ultimately benefit Russia.
Trump announced he had spoken with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that peace negotiations would begin "immediately" and that a ceasefire was expected in the "not too distant future."
Earlier that day, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that "returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective" and that NATO membership for Ukraine was off the table.
By making these concessions before negotiations had even begun, Trump's team undermined its own position, according to Timothy Ash, an associate fellow at Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia Program.
"Why would you give away your negotiating leverage before talks even start?" Ash questioned. "We might ultimately agree that NATO membership isn’t viable now or ever, but that was a card Trump could have played. The same goes for territorial concessions—he could have taken a tougher stance."
Ash called it a "rookie error."
‘We Cannot Trust Our Partners’
For many Ukrainians, the U.S. signaling compromises on NATO membership and territorial integrity—without involving Ukraine in formal talks—felt like a betrayal by a key ally.
"This shows we cannot trust our partners," said Petro Andryushchenko, former mayoral advisor of Mariupol and head of the Center for the Study of Occupation. "It dismantles the very foundation of democracy and the post-World War II global order."
Andryushchenko emphasized that territorial concessions would be especially devastating for those living under Russian occupation, as it would force them to accept that they may never be reunited with Ukraine.
Currently, Russia occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory and continues slow advances in the east. The UN has reported "widespread" human rights violations in these occupied areas, including threats, unlawful imprisonment, and torture.
"Imagine living under occupation, believing in liberation, risking your life to report on Russian troop movements—only to be told you are abandoned, that you will never be freed," Andryushchenko said.
Since taking office, Trump has had significant military, financial, and diplomatic tools at his disposal to pressure Russia into making concessions to Ukraine.
Oleksandr Merezhko, a senior member of Ukraine’s parliament from Zelensky’s party, dismissed Hegseth’s assertion that restoring Ukraine’s pre-war borders was unrealistic. He insisted it was "absolutely possible" if the right pressure were applied to Russia.
Trump had previously suggested using heavy tariffs and sanctions to pressure Russia into accepting a peace deal.
"To restore our borders, Ukraine needs sufficient modern weaponry to at least match Russia on the battlefield," Merezhko argued. "Additionally, severe financial sanctions on Russia’s banking and financial sectors could cripple its war machine. Regrettably, we haven’t seen that yet."
Bypassing Europe and Ukraine
Not everyone was surprised by Hegseth’s comments. John Foreman, former British ambassador to Moscow, described them as an "ultra-realist approach."
"The Americans aren’t willing to put NATO troops into Ukraine. If they were, they would have done it in 2022. And de facto, Ukraine is likely to lose land as part of any peace deal because it lacks the military capability to expel Russian forces," Foreman stated.
"I understand why Kyiv and some European capitals are upset, but frankly, this was predictable."
The phone call between Trump and Putin was significant, Foreman noted, as it signaled that discussions were happening directly between the U.S. and Russia, excluding European allies and possibly even Ukraine itself.
Under President Joe Biden, direct communication between the U.S. and Putin was cut off following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
"The Russians have achieved a key goal—they now have a direct line to Washington, bypassing Europe and potentially even Ukraine," Foreman said.
European leaders, caught off guard by Trump’s remarks, scrambled to respond.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, questioned: "Why are we handing Russia everything it wants before negotiations even begin? … If an agreement is made behind our backs, it simply won’t work."
The Financial Times reported that European officials fear they will be left to bear the burden of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and security if Trump negotiates a deal with Putin without their involvement.
In response, six European countries—Germany, France, the U.K., Poland, Italy, and Spain—issued a joint statement with Ukraine and the European Commission, reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity.
‘Trump Has Effectively Surrendered’
Trump and Hegseth’s comments also sparked criticism within the U.S.
Senator Richard Blumenthal called Hegseth’s stance a "surrender and betrayal" of Ukraine, while Senator Adam Schiff criticized Trump for speaking with Putin before consulting Zelensky.
John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, told CNN: "Trump has effectively surrendered to Putin before negotiations have even begun."
The terms outlined by Hegseth "could have been written in the Kremlin," Bolton added.
Hegseth defended his position at a press conference in Brussels, arguing that a swift negotiation was not a "betrayal" but a recognition that the U.S. and the world were invested in achieving a negotiated peace.
Despite the controversy, Trump’s calls to Putin and Zelensky have set the stage for a new phase of discussions after nearly three years of war. No formal negotiations have taken place since the early months of the conflict.
Zelensky is expected to meet with top U.S. officials, including Trump’s Ukraine and Russia envoy Keith Kellogg and Vice President JD Vance, at the Munich Security Conference from Feb. 14-16.
Kellogg is also scheduled to visit Ukraine on Feb. 20. Trump has indicated he may meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia and plans to meet Zelensky soon, though he has not provided specific details.
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