President Trump told European leaders after his meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Friday in Alaska that he supported a plan to end the war in Ukraine by ceding unconquered territory to the Russian invaders, rather than try for a cease-fire, according to two senior European officials who were briefed on the call.
Mr. Trump will discuss that plan with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Monday at the White House, and European leaders are invited to come along, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.
After his meeting with Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump has dropped his demand for an immediate cease-fire and believes a rapid peace treaty can be negotiated, so long as Mr. Zelensky agrees to cede the rest of the Donbas region to Russia, even those areas not occupied by Russian troops.
Mr. Zelensky and the European leaders have strongly opposed such a concession of unoccupied land, which also contains important defensive lines and is mineral rich. Ukrainian officials have said that a final deal cannot involve Kyiv agreeing to cede any Ukrainian sovereign territory permanently, which would violate the Ukrainian Constitution.
In return, Mr. Putin offered a cease-fire in the rest of Ukraine at current battle lines and a written promise not to attack Ukraine or any European country again, the senior officials said. They pointed out to Mr. Trump that Mr. Putin often broke his written commitments.
It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory, the officials emphasized, adding that international borders must not be changed by force.
Mr. Trump did not mention during the call imposing any further sanctions or economic pressure on Russia, the officials said. But the European leaders emphasized that they would continue sanctions and economic pressure on Russia until the killing stops, one official said.
White House officials did not respond to a request for comment.
On a more positive note, the European officials said, Mr. Trump said that Mr. Putin agreed that Ukraine should have strong security guarantees after a settlement, but not under NATO. American troops might participate, Mr. Trump told the Europeans.
Mr. Putin also asked for guarantees for Russian to become an official language again in Ukraine and security for Russian Orthodox churches, the officials said.
Mr. Trump said he was hopeful on getting a trilateral meeting with Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky, the officials said. But Mr. Putin has so far refused to meet with Mr. Zelensky, considering him an illegitimate president of an artificial country.
Jim Tankersley and Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.
Steven Erlanger is the chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe and is based in Berlin. He has reported from over 120 countries, including Thailand, France, Israel, Germany and the former Soviet Union.
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