{"id":168552,"date":"2025-10-18T22:43:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T22:43:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ukraine-russia-war-latest-putin-demanded-kyiv-surrender-key-territory-in-call-with-trump-the-independent\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T22:43:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T22:43:50","slug":"ukraine-russia-war-latest-putin-demanded-kyiv-surrender-key-territory-in-call-with-trump-the-independent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ukraine-russia-war-latest-putin-demanded-kyiv-surrender-key-territory-in-call-with-trump-the-independent\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin \u2018demanded Kyiv surrender key territory\u2019 in call with Trump – The Independent"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Russian president reportedly wants Kyiv to give up Donetsk, a key military objective in eastern Ukraine
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Vladmir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender key territory in a call with US president Donald Trump earlier this week, according to reports.
The Russian president wants Kyiv to give up Donetsk, a key military objective in eastern Ukraine that has been fiercely defended throughout the conflict, as reported by WaPo<\/em><\/a>.
Putin made the request to Trump on Thursday, just a day before Volodymyr Zelensky flew <\/a>into Washington DC on Friday for a high-stakes meeting with the US president.
After the White House Trump signalled to Zelensky on Friday that he’s leaning against selling him long-range Tomahawk missiles, weaponry that the Ukrainians believe could help get Putin to the negotiating table.
“I have an obligation also to make sure that we’re completely stocked up as a country, because you never know what’s going to happen in war and peace,” Trump said. “We’d much rather have them not need Tomahawks. We’d much rather have the war be over to be honest.”
Zelensky told Trump said he had a “proposition” in which Ukraine could provide the United States with its advanced drones, while Washington would sell Kyiv the Tomahawk missiles.
Vladmir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender key territory in a call with US president Donald Trump earlier this week, according to reports.
The Russian president wants Kyiv to give up Donetsk, a key military objective in eastern Ukraine that has been fiercely defended throughout the conflict, as revealed by WaPo<\/em><\/a>.
Putin made the request to Trump on Thursday, just a day before Volodymyr Zelensky flew <\/a>into Washington DC on Friday for a high-stakes meeting with the US president.
Following Zelensky\u2019s meeting with Trump on Friday, Starmer suggested working with the US to draft a Ukrainian peace plan similar to Trump\u2019s 20-point plan for Gaza, a source briefed on the meeting told Axios.
Mark Rutte, Nato\u2019s secretary general, proposed an urgent follow-up call over the weekend between European national security advisers.
Starmer\u2019s office has been contacted for comment.
The European Union has unveiled four flagship projects to strengthen its defence capabilities against Russia by 2030, as recent airspace violations show that \u201cEurope is at risk\u201d.
The European Commission will submit the \u2018Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030\u2019 to EU leaders next week, essentially presenting them with a checklist of equipment for national governments to buy, with hopes of encouraging member states to decide who will take the lead on projects.
What are the projects?
As a top priority, the plans include the European Drone Defence Initiative, which aims to build counter-drone capabilities to detect, track, and disable rogue drones. The system is expected to be initially operational by December 2026 and fully functional in late 2027.
The drone system is part of the wider Eastern Flank Watch scheme, which aims to fortify defences along Europe’s eastern border on land, in the Baltic and Black seas, in the sky, and against hybrid operations. It hopes to be fully functional by 2028.
The European Air Shield aims to protect member states\u2019 airspace by creating an integrated, multi-layered air and missile defence shield to protect against all Russian air threats.
The fourth project is the European Space Shield, which aims to protect space assets and services against growing threats.
In a private call to Zelensky after his meeting with Trump, Starmer told the president that Russia\u2019s tactics showed that Ukraine was \u201cparty of peace\u201d.
Following a group call with European leaders on Friday, Starmer and Zelensky spoke privately with each other.
Starmer told Zelensky: \u201cRussia\u2019s stalling tactics ahead of peace talks had shown Ukraine was the serious party of peace.\u201d
Following Zelensky\u2019s meeting with Trump on Friday, Starmer suggested working with the US to draft a Ukrainian peace plan similar to Trump\u2019s 20-point plan for Gaza, a source briefed on the meeting told Axios.
Mark Rutte, Nato\u2019s secretary general, proposed an urgent follow-up call over the weekend between European national security advisers.
Starmer\u2019s office has been contacted for comment.
Donald Trump said the idea of a Putin-Trump rail tunnel linking the US and Russia was \u201cinteresting\u201d after it was floated by a Russian envoy late on Thursday night.
But when asked about it in Washington on Friday, Zelensky said “I’m not happy with this idea,” prompting laughter from the US side.
The idea envisions a rail tunnel built under the Bering Strait, connecting the two countries, and allowing for joint exploration of natural resources.
Putin\u2019s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, suggested the idea after Trump\u2019s call with Putin on Thursday.
“Imagine connecting the US and Russia, the Americas and the Afro-Eurasia with the Putin-Trump Tunnel – a 70-mile link symbolising unity,\u201d he posted on X.
He suggested the project could be taken on by Elon Musk\u2019s Boring Company, at a cost of $8bn (\u00a36bn).
Zelensky called Starmer and other world leaders after his meeting with Trump to inform them of his \u201cproductive and extensive\u201d visit to the Oval Office.
On the joint call were also German leader Friedrich Merz, Italian leader Giorgia Meloni, and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, among others.
The leaders discussed air defence, Ukraine\u2019s needs, and security guarantees.
Starmer said: \u201cI reiterated our unwavering commitment to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, the UK will continue to send humanitarian aid and military support.\u201d
A Kremlin <\/a>envoy has proposed a \u201cPutin-Trump\u201d rail tunnel between eastern Russia<\/a> and the US state of Alaska to \u201csymbolise unity\u201d, even suggesting that it could be built by billionaire Elon Musk<\/a>.
Kirill Dmitriev<\/a>, Moscow\u2019s special envoy on international economic and investment cooperation and a key negotiator in Ukraine peace talks, suggested the project could be completed within eight years by Musk\u2019s Boring Company, at a cost of $8bn (\u00a36bn). This could be funded by Moscow and \u201cinternational partners\u201d, he added.
He envisaged the 70-mile rail and cargo link beneath the Bering Strait could unlock joint exploration of natural resources.
David Lammy<\/a> has claimed that Vladimir Putin wants Nigel Farage<\/a> and his \u201crightwing populist\u201d allies to succeed in the hope they divide Europe.
His attack comes after a leading ally of Mr Farage\u2019s – former Reform UK leader in Wales Nathan Gill<\/a> – was found guilty of taking money from the Kremlin.
The deputy prime minister used a major speech in Amsterdam on Saturday to claim that Labour and its centre left allies \u201care winning\u201d in holding back rightwing populism around the world.
He said: \u201cNigel Farage says he\u2019s stunned by the fact his former party leader in Wales took Russian bribes. But we\u2019re not stunned
\u201cBecause the Kremlin has a proven track record of supporting the networks that want European unity to fail.\u201d
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