President Donald Trump has called for an immediate halt to the war in Ukraine, calling on both Ukraine and Russia to “stop where they are” and accept their current territorial lines.
Following a two-hour White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump posted on Truth Social, saying, “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!”
Speaking later in Florida, Trump reiterated his call for peace, stating that both sides “stop the war immediately” and that Russia retain control of the areas it has seized. “You go by the battle line wherever it is — otherwise it’s too complicated,” he told reporters.
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The remarks came just a day after Trump’s lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he announced plans to meet the Russian leader soon in Budapest. The shift marks a step back from Trump’s earlier optimism that Ukraine could regain lost territory, expressed after his September meeting with Zelenskyy in New York.
At Friday’s joint appearance, Zelenskyy avoided directly addressing Trump’s suggestion about freezing the conflict. “The president is right we have to stop where we are, and then to speak,” Zelenskyy said when asked about Trump’s post.
During their talks, Trump also indicated he was leaning against selling long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, according to AP’s report. The weapons, capable of striking deep inside Russian territory, are seen by Kyiv as key to pressuring Putin into serious peace talks. Zelenskyy had proposed a deal in which Ukraine would provide the U.S. with its advanced drones in exchange for the missiles, but Trump said he was hesitant to draw from America’s own stockpile.
“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,” Trump said. “We’d much rather have them not need Tomahawks. We’d much rather have the war be over to be honest.”
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Putin’s advisers later warned that supplying Ukraine with Tomahawks “won’t change the situation on the battlefield, but would cause substantial damage” to U.S.-Russia relations.
Friday’s session marked the fifth face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy since Trump returned to the White House in January. Trump said it was “to be determined” whether Zelenskyy would take part in the proposed Hungary talks, suggesting a “double meeting” with both leaders separately could yield better results.
“These two leaders do not like each other, and we want to make it comfortable for everybody,” Trump said.
Zelenskyy responded that Ukraine’s stance toward Russia “is not about feelings.” “They attacked us, so they are an enemy for us. They don’t intend to stop,” he said. “Although, undoubtedly, we hate the enemy. Undoubtedly.”
Trump, who has long vowed to end the war quickly, appeared undeterred by criticism of his approach. Asked whether Putin might be stringing him along, he replied, “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.”
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