President Donald Trump signaled a shift in his Ukraine peace plan on Saturday after a secret phone call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The change comes days after Trump issued a strict deadline to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept the proposal.
Starmer reached out to Trump to discuss the deal, which would require Ukraine to surrender large amounts of land, cut its military force significantly and hold nationwide elections within 100 days. Officials described the call as a good and constructive conversation.
The plan has faced heavy criticism across Europe because it was assembled with input from the Kremlin. Ukraine was not included in the negotiations. Trump’s statement later in the day suggested he is now open to adjustments.
He told reporters the offer is not his final position. Trump said he wants the war to end quickly and argued the conflict never would have happened if he had been president during the 2022 Russian invasion.
When asked what would happen if Zelensky refused, Trump said the Ukrainian leader could keep fighting his little heart out, as the Daily Mail reported.
The comment expressed frustration while also acknowledging that negotiations are still ongoing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to be angered by Trump’s shift. Putin previously said the plan could serve as the basis for a final peace settlement. He also complained that Russia had not been fully consulted on any updated versions.
European nations have already expressed concerns about the arrangement.
After the Group of 20 meeting on Saturday, Britain, Japan, Canada and the European Union released a joint statement saying Trump’s proposal contains essential elements for a lasting peace. They also said more work is needed before any agreement can move forward.
French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters at the summit that his issue was not with the United States or President Trump. He said Putin continues to reject ceasefire options and refuses to stop attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The plan developed by Trump and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff would allow Russia to keep Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk. It would also require Ukraine to hand over additional territory currently under Ukrainian control. That provision has become one of the most controversial parts of the agreement.
The proposal freezes the front lines at the regional borders of Kherson and Zaporizhia. That would leave Russia in control of Mariupol and provide a direct connection to Crimea. Ukraine would also be permanently blocked from joining NATO.
Sanctions on Russia would be lifted. The Kremlin would be reintegrated into the global economy. In exchange, Ukraine would receive weaker security guarantees from the U.S. and NATO partners.
Another draft version says NATO would treat any attack on Ukraine as an attack on the broader transatlantic community. European leaders have not confirmed whether that language remains in the active proposal.
Zelensky has publicly signaled that Ukraine cannot get every concession it wants. He told citizens that the pressure on Ukraine is one of the most challenging moments of the war. Zelensky said the country now faces a choice between losing dignity and risking the loss of a key partner.
Russia has continued attacking cities across Ukraine despite new threats from President Trump. The Kremlin has shown no indication of slowing operations as negotiations continue.
