The US will insist that Russia acknowledge Ukraine’s right to develop maintain an adequately equipped military and defense industry as part of any peace agreement, rejecting Russia’s insistence on a significant demilitarization for the Ukraine as a condition for ending the conflict. This indicates that the Trump administration is seeking certain concessions from both the Kremlin and Ukraine to conclude the war. Allowing Kyiv to maintain its armed forces would mean forcing Putin to abandon his stated objective of “demilitarizing” the country – one of the primary goals of his war.
The Trump administration also intends for Russia to return the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Ukraine, which it seized at the onset of its full-scale invasion. Furthermore, the US seeks to secure passage over the Dnipro River and the return of Russian-occupied territories in the Kharkiv region.
The Americans have made it clear on multiple occasions that they will not demand recognition from Ukraine and Europe of Crimea as part of Russia. Additionally, the White House opposes Ukraine being forced to withdraw its troops from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson as Russia desires.