This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20z20kyvxxo

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
German defence minister says Ukraine should not agree to sweeping territorial concessions Trump 'thinks' Zelensky ready to give up Crimea to Russia
(about 2 hours later)
Germany's defence minister has warned Ukraine not to agree to a deal which involves sweeping territorial concessions in return for a ceasefire with Russia. Presidents Trump and Zelensky held a one-on-one meeting at the Vatican on the sidelines of the Pope's funeral on Saturday
Boris Pistorius said Ukraine "should not go as far as the latest proposal by the American president", which he said would amount to a "capitulation". US President Donald Trump has said he thinks his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky is willing to give up Crimea to Russia as part of a peace deal - despite Kyiv's previous rejections of any such proposal.
US President Donald Trump said this week that "most of the major points [of the deal] are agreed to". Reports suggest that Ukraine could be asked to give up large portions of land seized by Russia, including Crimea. Asked if he thought the Ukrainian president was ready to cede control of its southern peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, Trump replied: "I think so."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected territorial concessions, saying issues about land can be discussed once a ceasefire has been agreed. Trump also urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop shooting... and sign a deal" to end the fighting, suggesting this could be achieved within two weeks.
On Sunday, Pistorius told German public broadcaster ARD that Kyiv knew that it might have to part with some territory to secure a ceasefire. He made the comments to reporters after returning from the Vatican, where he held a brief meeting with Zelensky before Pope Francis's funeral.
"But they will certainly not go as far - or should not go as far - as the latest proposal by the American president," he said. Trump said that meeting had "gone well" and that Crimea had been discussed "very briefly".
"Ukraine could have got a year ago what was included in that proposal, it is akin to a capitulation. I cannot discern any added value." Ukraine has repeatedly rejected making any territorial concessions, stressing that issues about land should only be discussed once a ceasefire is agreed.
The BBC has not seen the exact details of the latest US plan. On Friday, Reuters news agency reported that it had seen proposals from the US that included American legal acceptance of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and de facto recognition of Russian control of other occupied areas, including all of Luhansk in the east of the country. Neither Zelensky nor Russian President Vladimir Putin have publicly responded to Trump's latest comments.
Reuters says it has also seen a counter-proposals from Europe and Ukraine, which reportedly say the sides will only discuss what happens to occupied Ukrainian territory once a ceasefire has come into effect. Earlier on Sunday, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned Ukraine not to agree to a deal which involves sweeping territorial concessions in return for a ceasefire.
He told German public broadcaster ARD that Kyiv "should not go as far as the latest proposal by the American president", which he said would amount to a "capitulation".
The German minister said that Ukraine knew it might have to part with some territory to secure a truce.
"But they will certainly not go as far - or should not go as far - as the latest proposal by the American president.
"Ukraine could have got a year ago what was included in that proposal, it is akin to a capitulation. I cannot discern any added value," Pistorius said.
Trump said last week that "most of the major points [of the deal] are agreed to". Reports suggest that Ukraine could be asked to give up large portions of land seized by Russia, including Crimea.
The BBC has not seen the exact details of the latest US plan.
On Friday, Reuters news agency reported that it had seen proposals from the US that included American legal acceptance of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and de facto recognition of Russian control of other occupied areas, including all of Luhansk in the east of the country.
Reuters says it has also seen counter-proposals from Europe and Ukraine, which reportedly say the sides will only discuss what happens to occupied Ukrainian territory once a ceasefire has come into effect.
The US plan also rules out Ukraine's membership in the Nato military alliance and sees a UK-France led "coalition of the willing" providing a security guarantee once a ceasefire is in force without the involvement of the US.The US plan also rules out Ukraine's membership in the Nato military alliance and sees a UK-France led "coalition of the willing" providing a security guarantee once a ceasefire is in force without the involvement of the US.
Meanwhile the Europeans want the US to give "robust" guarantees in the form of a cast-iron Nato-style commitment to come to Ukraine's aid if it is attacked.Meanwhile the Europeans want the US to give "robust" guarantees in the form of a cast-iron Nato-style commitment to come to Ukraine's aid if it is attacked.
The US reportedly further proposes to take control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - currently occupied by Russia - which would then provide electricity to both Russia and Ukraine. The counter-plan makes no mention of giving Russia power.The US reportedly further proposes to take control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - currently occupied by Russia - which would then provide electricity to both Russia and Ukraine. The counter-plan makes no mention of giving Russia power.
In an interview with Time magazine this week, Trump once again blamed Kyiv for starting the war, citing its ambitions of joining Nato.In an interview with Time magazine this week, Trump once again blamed Kyiv for starting the war, citing its ambitions of joining Nato.
The US president also told Time: "Crimea will stay with Russia."The US president also told Time: "Crimea will stay with Russia."
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Russia and Ukraine to move forward to secure a peace deal.On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Russia and Ukraine to move forward to secure a peace deal.
"It needs to happen soon," Rubio told NBC. "We cannot continue to dedicate time and resources to this effort if it's not going to come to fruition.""It needs to happen soon," Rubio told NBC. "We cannot continue to dedicate time and resources to this effort if it's not going to come to fruition."
The US has recently warned it would walk away from negotiations if progress was not made.The US has recently warned it would walk away from negotiations if progress was not made.
It follows a one-on-one meeting between Zelensky and Trump at the Vatican on the sidelines of the Pope's funeral on Saturday.
The White House described the meeting as "very productive" while the Ukrainian president said it had the "potential to become historic".
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently controls almost 20% of Ukrainian territory.Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently controls almost 20% of Ukrainian territory.