• Trump met with Zelensky, expressing a pro-Ukraine sentiment.
• He criticized Putin while indicating Zelensky might concede Crimea.
• Peace talks face a pivotal week with potential U.S. concessions.

Former President Donald Trump has recently signaled a notable shift towards supporting Ukraine, culminating in a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amidst ongoing peace discussions. During their encounter in the Vatican, Trump publicly questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to “stop shooting” and pursue a peace agreement, marking an apparent change from prior U.S. positions favoring Moscow's interests. This meeting followed substantial tension between Zelensky and the U.S. leadership over war strategies and territorial negotiations regarding Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Photos taken during their interaction depicted them speaking amicably, contrasting the earlier fraught relationship between the two leaders, according to nytimes, scmp, and thehill.

Trump expressed a belief that Zelensky might be willing to concede Crimea to Russia, which has been a longstanding red line for Ukraine. Comments by the U.S. leader suggested he feels pressure from both sides during these talks. He stated, “Oh, I think so,” when prompted about Zelensky's readiness to concede the peninsula as part of peace negotiations, despite Zelensky's repeated denials of any intention to surrender Ukrainian territory. This divergent perspective has raised concerns not only among Ukrainian officials but also among their Western allies, prompting some to question the viability of Trump's peace strategy, according to scmp and thehill.

Amidst these discussions, Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at a potentially decisive week for peace efforts, expressing dissatisfaction with the pace of negotiations. Trump indicated he would reassess the U.S. commitment to Ukraine in two weeks if significant progress isn’t made, a reality underscored by increasing frustration over continued Russian aggression. He reiterated the need for immediate cessation of fighting and urged Putin to sign an agreement, stating, “I want him to stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal,” as attacks on Ukraine persisted, according to nytimes, scmp, and thehill.

Traction on a peace deal remains tenuous, as multiple parties question the implications of Trump’s proposals, which are perceived to largely align with Putin’s objectives, such as maintaining Russian control over Crimea and necessitating Ukraine's blockage from NATO membership. However, voices within the U.S. administration and Congress are pushing back against any deal perceived as excessively favorable to Moscow, indicating complex dynamics in achieving consensus on Ukraine's defense needs and significant security guarantees, according to scmp and thehill.