Dobropillia, Donetsk Region – Tension gripped eastern Ukraine on Friday as news broke that US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet in Alaska to discuss possible peace terms — including a controversial land swap proposal.
The talks come barely 24 hours after a Russian missile strike on Dobropillia killed at least 11 people and wounded 30 others, according to Ukraine’s emergency services. Officials confirmed that nine buildings were damaged in the March 7 evening attack.
Omo, this war matter don enter another level.
Trump’s Land Swap Proposal Divides Opinion
President Trump has hinted that peace could come if Russia is allowed to keep the Donbas region and Crimea, in exchange for relinquishing Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which it only partially controls.
While Trump called it a possible “win-win” deal, European leaders issued a strong joint statement rejecting any plan to redraw Ukraine’s borders by force.
“The people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future,” the statement read, adding that territorial integrity is a principle that must never be compromised.
Notably, Hungary’s Viktor Orban refused to sign the declaration, maintaining his close ties with Moscow.
Ukrainian Troops: ‘We Won’t Give an Inch’
On the ground, Ukrainian soldiers expressed deep scepticism about the meeting, fearing that any agreement between Trump and Putin could be imposed on Kyiv.
“Give it away to whom? Give it away for what?” asked Chef, commander of Ukraine’s 58th Motorised Brigade training base.
Another soldier, call sign Champion, admitted negotiations were essential for peace but warned:
“I cannot say that tomorrow there will be peace just like that… because the enemy continues to creep in.”
Others, like Snail from the 43rd Separate Mechanised Brigade, stressed that Russia would only negotiate seriously after suffering major battlefield losses.
Europe’s Painful History Shapes Its Stance
European nations, haunted by the memory of borders being redrawn through wars, are deeply opposed to formal recognition of Russia’s territorial gains.
NATO chief Mark Rutte acknowledged the reality that Russia may continue occupying some regions but insisted this should never be legitimised. Any legal recognition would require amending Ukraine’s constitution through a national referendum — a process that could trigger a political crisis for President Zelensky.
Battlefield Escalation
Meanwhile, Russia’s military has intensified its push in eastern Ukraine, reportedly aiming to break key defensive lines. The renewed offensive comes after months of relentless air strikes that have devastated Ukrainian towns and cities.
A Gallup poll shows that 69% of Ukrainians want a negotiated end to the war, but a similar percentage believe that peace is nowhere in sight.
For now, all eyes are on the Alaska meeting, where the future of Ukraine’s territorial map — and perhaps the entire course of the war — could be decided behind closed doors.
