Trump urges Ukraine, Russia to halt fighting, calls for ceasefire talks
U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Ukraine and Russia to “stop where they are” and immediately end the ongoing war, following a lengthy White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.
Trump, who has repeatedly expressed frustration over the prolonged conflict since returning to office nine months ago, said both sides should declare victory and begin negotiations to stop further bloodshed.
“Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by war and guts,” Trump said in a Truth Social post shortly after meeting with Zelenskyy and his delegation. “They should stop where they are. Let both claim victory, let history decide!”
Speaking later to reporters in Florida, Trump reiterated his position, saying, “You go by the battle line wherever it is — otherwise it’s too complicated. You stop at the battle line and both sides should go home, go to their families, and stop the killing.”
The remarks signaled another shift in Trump’s approach to the war. In recent weeks, he had shown growing impatience with Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested he was open to helping Ukraine reclaim its occupied territories. Last month, after meeting Zelenskyy at the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump had even said he believed Kyiv could regain all lost territory — a major reversal from his earlier stance urging Ukraine to concede land to end the war.
Following Friday’s talks, Zelenskyy told reporters it was time to seek a ceasefire and dialogue but avoided directly addressing Trump’s call for Ukraine to give up land. “The president is right — we have to stop where we are, and then to speak,” he said.
Trump’s shift in tone came a day after a phone conversation with Putin, during which he announced plans to meet the Russian leader in Budapest, Hungary, in the coming weeks.
During his meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump also appeared hesitant about selling long-range U.S. Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Zelenskyy had proposed a trade that would see Kyiv provide advanced drones to Washington in exchange for the missiles, which could help Ukraine strike deep into Russian territory.
However, Trump said he was reluctant to reduce U.S. weapons stockpiles. “We’d much rather have the war be over, to be honest,” he said. Zelenskyy, reacting later, noted that Trump had not ruled out the deal entirely: “It’s good that President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but for today, didn’t say ‘yes.’”
Putin, meanwhile, warned that supplying Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles would “cause substantial damage” to U.S.-Russia relations, though he admitted the weapons would not change the situation on the battlefield.
Trump, who campaigned on a promise to end the war swiftly, said he still hopes to bring both sides to the negotiation table, possibly during his planned talks in Hungary. “These two leaders do not like each other, and we want to make it comfortable for everybody,” he said.
Zelenskyy, however, dismissed suggestions of personal animosity as the root of the conflict. “They attacked us, so they are an enemy for us. It’s not about feelings — it’s about survival,” he said.
Despite renewed diplomatic efforts, Moscow continues its bombardment of Ukraine, and Putin has shown little interest in direct talks with Zelenskyy. Trump acknowledged the challenge but expressed confidence in his ability to handle the Russian leader. “I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well,” he said. “I think I’m pretty good at this stuff.”
