WASHINGTON — Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, President Trump urged both Russia and Ukraine to bring an end to their prolonged conflict, which has lasted over three years and eight months. Zelensky concurred, stating that “both sides must stop.”
“Enough blood has been shed; property lines should not be determined by war and violence. They should cease hostilities as they stand,” Trump expressed in a post on Truth Social shortly after their meeting, while on his way to his Mar-a-Lago resort.
“Let both sides declare victory; let history be the judge! No more gunfire, no more loss of life, and no more excessive and unsustainable expenditures,” he added.
Outside the White House, Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s willingness to conclude the fighting. “I align with the president’s viewpoint — indeed, both parties need to halt,” he stated. However, he emphasized, “the focus is on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, since we did not initiate this conflict.”
Prior to dining with Zelensky, Trump labeled himself the “mediator president,” expressing optimism that Ukraine would not require Tomahawk missiles to resolve its war with Russia, even amid Zelensky’s suggestion of a deal to provide the U.S. with drones in exchange for armaments.
Post-meeting, Zelensky mentioned they had touched upon Tomahawk missiles but refrained from elaborating further, suggesting that the U.S. is cautious about escalating the situation.
Earlier, the U.S. president acknowledged, “We’ll be discussing Tomahawks, but we would prefer Ukraine not to need them.”
Trump warmly welcomed Zelensky for his third visit to the White House this year, one day after indicating plans to meet with Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, pending fruitful discussions between high-level representatives from Washington and Moscow in the upcoming week.
During a half-hour press session, Trump emphasized his role as mediator in the complex situation, stating, “I am mediating. It’s a challenging scenario.”
Zelensky expressed readiness to join a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin, reiterating his openness to discussions with the Russian leader.
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Trump insisted that he believes Putin “wants to end the war,” although he conceded the possibility that the autocrat might simply be stalling for time.
“I’ve been played all my life by the best. I’ve come out ahead,” Trump remarked. “So, yes, time could be a tactic, but I believe I have a knack for these situations. I think he wants a deal. I’ve brokered eight; I’m aiming for a ninth.”
On Friday, Trump also commented he doubts Putin would want Zelensky involved in the upcoming discussions due to their “tremendous bad blood.”
Nevertheless, following a cease-fire with Hamas, Trump expressed confidence that Putin is ready to conclude his nearly four-year invasion, despite previous meetings having stalled when Putin declined a Trump-requested encounter with Zelensky.
“I believe President Putin wants to bring this conflict to a close, or I wouldn’t be speaking this way,” he stated.
“I truly believe he seeks to conclude this war. My conversation with him lasted two-and-a-half hours yesterday; we covered a wide range of topics. He wants resolution. I think President Zelensky wants closure as well. We need to achieve this.”
Shortly after, however, Zelensky gently reminded Trump that “I think Putin is not quite ready, but I’m confident that with your support, we can put an end to this war.”
Zelensky implored Trump to persuade Putin to agree to a cease-fire, a suggestion Trump once ardently supported but has neglected to address since his previous summer meeting with the Russian leader.
Zelensky’s main request from Trump was anticipated to be the acquisition of powerful Tomahawk missiles that would enable Kyiv to launch attacks on targets throughout much of Russia from their territory.
Additionally, Zelensky presented Ukraine’s idea of trading drone technology for American weaponry.
In response, Trump acknowledged ongoing discussions between Washington and Kyiv regarding such a trade.
“Ukraine does manufacture excellent drones,” Trump noted.
Trump remarked on the decisive role of drone warfare, stating, “The prominence of drones has surged in recent years due to this conflict. Yet, jets are unrivaled. We’ve eliminated many drones in Israel.”
In a noticeable shift, Trump conveyed uncertainty about whether Ukraine could reclaim “all” of its territory currently occupied by Russian forces, although he indicated it remains a possibility.
“You never know; war is fascinating. The outcome is always uncertain, so it’s a game of war and peace,” he commented when queried about his previous outlook.
In a Truth Social post from September 23, he had expressed belief that “with the EU’s backing, Ukraine can fight and potentially regain all its original territory.”
Previously, he had suggested that Zelensky should consider conceding certain territories in any peace negotiations.
Despite their differing views on the perception of Putin and the necessity for enhanced weapons, the meeting was marked by cordiality.
Trump light-heartedly welcomed Zelensky, praising his attire as the Ukrainian leader swapped his wartime look for a suit, reflecting respect.
Trump remarked, “You look fantastic in that jacket, really beautiful. I hope people notice,” as he greeted Zelensky.
“It’s a nice, stylish choice. I quite like it,” he added.
Trump maintained his cheerfulness when a reporter inquired about a Russian suggestion to construct a tunnel to Alaska, a proposal floated recently by Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, who considered that “a Putin-Trump tunnel connecting Eurasia and the Americas” could be built for less than $8 billion.
“I just heard about the idea — a tunnel from Russia to Alaska. It’s quite a fascinating concept. We’ll have to ponder it,” Trump said.
“This surfaced yesterday, a tunnel from Russia to Alaska. Quite intriguing, isn’t it? What are your thoughts, Mr. President? How do you feel about that?”
Zelensky replied, “I’m not pleased with this,” to which Trump chuckled, saying, “I doubt you’ll be on board with it! Neither of you seems to like it!”
