WASHINGTON, USA — Negotiators seeking an end to the Russia-Ukraine war have already discussed dividing certain assets, US President Donald Trump said Sunday, March 16, 2025, ahead of his scheduled call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated that progress had been made in diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire, following his announcement last week that Ukraine had accepted a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire.
The decision now hinges on Russia’s response.
“We’re doing pretty well, I think, with Russia. We’ll see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday, I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday,” Trump said while returning to Washington after a weekend at Mar-a-Lago.
“A lot of work’s been done over the weekend, we want to see if we can bring that war to an end,” he added. “Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.”
Discussions on Land and Energy Assets
Trump confirmed that negotiators have already outlined key issues, including land disputes and control over energy infrastructure.
“We’ll be talking about land. A lot of land is a lot different than it was before the war, as you know. We’ll be talking about land, we’ll be talking about power plants, that’s a big question,” he said.
“But I think we have a lot of it already discussed, very much, by both sides, Ukraine and Russia. We’re already talking about that – dividing up certain assets.”
His remarks signal the potential for territorial concessions, a sticking point in any future peace deal.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has lost approximately 11% of its land, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War.
Putin’s Position Remains Unclear
Putin has not explicitly rejected the Trump-backed ceasefire, saying Moscow agreed with it in theory.
However, he has set strict conditions, including territorial demands, and reiterated claims that the Ukrainian government is responsible for the conflict.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff described recent meetings with Putin as “solution-based discussions”, telling CNN that talks were productive and that a pause in fighting could arrive within weeks.
Putin, in a statement on Friday, suggested that Russia is open to restoring relations with the US, saying they had been “destroyed by the previous American administration” but that the current situation is “starting to move”.
NATO Allies Express Concern Over Trump’s Approach
Trump’s willingness to discuss territorial concessions before formal negotiations has raised alarm among NATO allies, who fear that such a move could reward Putin for launching the war.
European leaders have consistently opposed any peace deal requiring Ukraine to cede land, arguing that it would embolden Russia and set a dangerous precedent for international conflicts.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected the idea of conceding territory, while Russia has made it clear that it has no plans to withdraw from occupied areas.
Next Steps in Negotiations
Meetings between US, Ukrainian, and Russian officials will continue this week, with the Kremlin confirming that US negotiators are expected to visit Russia for further talks.
Trump’s upcoming conversation with Putin on Tuesday may provide a clearer picture of whether the ceasefire proposal will move forward.
However, with both sides deeply entrenched in their positions, a final agreement remains uncertain.
