Zelensky’s White House Visit: Seeking Clarity on Russia’s Willingness to Negotiate

Shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are expected to push Kyiv on what territorial or political compromises it might consider to bring an end to the ongoing war.

However, Zelensky is likely to pose important questions of his own, primarily seeking to understand what concessions, if any, Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to offer in negotiations.

In a recent interview, Trump’s special peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, addressed Russia’s demand that Ukraine relinquish the entire Donbas region, which includes about 2,500 square miles of the Donetsk area still under Ukrainian control, framing it as a potential concession from Moscow.

Earlier this year, Russian officials insisted on Ukraine surrendering all four regions that Russia declared annexed in 2022, despite Kyiv maintaining control over significant parts of these areas, including two regional capitals. At the time, U.S. officials regarded these demands as unrealistic and an indication that Russia was not genuinely interested in peace.

The Kremlin’s updated request for full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions — collectively known as the Donbas — has been seen by U.S. observers as a softened stance, even though Ukraine’s leadership has firmly rejected any territorial concessions.

Witkoff noted that Russia initially demanded control over all five regions it claimed, including Crimea up to its administrative borders, but has since made some concessions during talks.