Kremlin Rejects Trump's Ukraine Frontline Freeze Proposal

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia's position on the Ukraine war remains unchanged, firmly rejecting President Trump's proposal to freeze the front lines and allow Ukraine to keep currently held territories, including parts of Donbas. Despite Trump's call to halt fighting along existing front lines and his denial of pressuring Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to cede territory, Moscow continues to demand Ukrainian withdrawal from contested areas and insists on territorial concessions as a condition for peace. Reports indicate that a recent Trump-Zelensky meeting was complicated by a prior phone call between Trump and Putin, in which Putin reiterated demands for Ukraine to hand over Donetsk Oblast. While the U.S. and Russia are expected to hold discussions ahead of a planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest, Kyiv remains steadfast in rejecting territorial concessions and calls for an unconditional ceasefire as a prerequisite for peace talks. The prospects for a diplomatic resolution appear uncertain, with Ukrainian experts skeptical of Trump's approach, viewing it as politically motivated rather than a genuine peace effort.