Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 15, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleTrump states Ukraine will decide on territorial swaps with Russia, emphasizing US's role in initiating talks without direct negotiation.
By Steve Holland
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not negotiate on behalf of Ukraine in his Friday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and would let Kyiv decide whether to engage in territorial swaps with Russia.
Trump said his goal was to get the two sides to start a negotiation, with any territorial swaps to be addressed then.
"They'll be discussed, but I've got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they'll make a proper decision. But I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Trump's remarks are likely to offer some assurance to Ukraine, which is worried that the U.S.-Russia talks could freeze the conflict at Ukraine's expense.
Trump said the Russian offensive in Ukraine was likely aimed at helping to strengthen Putin's hand in any negotiations to end the war.
"I think they're trying to negotiate. He's trying to set a stage. In his mind that helps him make a better deal. It actually hurts him, but in his mind that helps him make a better deal if they can continue the killing," he said.
The U.S. president said he expected his meeting with Putin to produce results, given the stakes involved and weakness in the Russian economy.
"He's a smart guy, been doing it for a long time but so have I ... we get along, there's a good respect level on both sides, and I think, you know, something's going to come of it," he said.
Trump said it was a good sign that Putin was bringing business executives with him from Russia, but said no deals could be made until the war was settled.
"I like that 'cause they want to do business, but they're not doing business until we get the war settled," he said.
(Reporting by Steve Holland, Susan Heavey and Ryan Patrick Jones, writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Ross Colvin and David Goodman)
An offensive is a coordinated military operation aimed at attacking and capturing enemy positions. It typically involves a series of planned attacks to gain territory or achieve strategic objectives.
A negotiation table is a metaphorical or physical space where parties come together to discuss and negotiate terms of an agreement. It represents the setting for dialogue and compromise.
A business executive is a high-ranking individual in an organization responsible for making major decisions, managing operations, and leading company strategies. They often hold titles such as CEO, CFO, or COO.
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