WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Friday called on Ukraine and Russia to stop where they are and end the ongoing war, following a more than two-hour meeting at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump’s comments marked a notable shift in his approach to the conflict, signaling a push for an immediate ceasefire and suggesting that Moscow could retain territory it has seized from Kyiv. “You stop at the battle line and both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing, and that should be it,” Trump told reporters after arriving in Florida.
Posting on Truth Social soon after the meeting, Trump added, “Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!”
Zelenskyy, speaking to reporters after the meeting, acknowledged that a pause and negotiations were needed, without directly addressing Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine relinquish territory. “The president is right we have to stop where we are, and then to speak,” he said.
The meeting came after Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and announced plans to meet him in Budapest in the coming weeks. The president also indicated reluctance to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, a weapon that Kyiv has argued could pressure Moscow to negotiate.
Zelenskyy opened discussions with a proposal to exchange Ukraine’s advanced drones for Tomahawk missiles, but Trump said he was cautious about committing U.S. supplies. “I have an obligation also to make sure that we’re completely stocked up as a country, because you never know what’s going to happen in war and peace,” he said. “We’d much rather have the war be over, to be honest.”
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Zelenskyy said the door remained open regarding Tomahawks. “It’s good that President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but for today, didn’t say ‘yes,’” he explained, stressing that Ukrainian forces need long-range missiles in addition to drones.
Trump’s shifting stance on the war follows earlier indications that he was willing to help Ukraine reclaim territory lost to Russia. After meeting Zelenskyy at last month’s U.N. General Assembly, Trump suggested Kyiv could retake all lost territory, a departure from his previous calls for concessions to end the conflict.
Friday’s meeting was the fifth face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since the former returned to office in January. Trump suggested a “double meeting” in Hungary, potentially involving both Zelenskyy and Putin, to facilitate productive negotiations.
“The two leaders do not like each other, and we want to make it comfortable for everybody,” Trump said. Zelenskyy emphasized that animosity toward Putin is rooted in Moscow’s aggression: “They attacked us, so they are an enemy for us. They don’t intend to stop,” he said.
Trump, recalling his 2024 campaign promise to end the war quickly, acknowledged the challenges in negotiating with Putin but expressed confidence in his diplomatic skills. “I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well. I think I’m pretty good at this stuff,” he said.
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