President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday his call for an immediate halt to the fighting in Ukraine, suggesting that both sides should freeze the war along current front lines effectively leaving Russia in control of much of the eastern Donbas region.
“Let it stop where it is. They can negotiate later. But right now, stop the killing,” Trump said while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. He claimed Russia already controls most of the disputed areas and argued that continuing the war would only bring more loss of life.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently rejected any suggestion of conceding territory to Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. The Donbas, a heavily industrialized region with strong cultural and linguistic ties to Russia, was among the first areas seized by Russian forces.
Trump’s comments followed a series of high-level meetings last week, including a tense discussion at the White House with Zelenskyy and a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day before.
According to reports from The Financial Times, the White House meeting turned confrontational at times, with Trump allegedly dismissing maps of the front lines presented by the Ukrainian delegation. Neither the White House nor Zelenskyy’s office provided additional details about the exchange.
Zelenskyy vows not to concede territory
In a statement on social media, Zelenskyy said he continues to urge European leaders to apply “the right kind of pressure” on Moscow, insisting Ukraine will not surrender any land in exchange for a ceasefire. “We will grant the aggressor no gifts and forget nothing,” he wrote.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also weighed in, warning that Ukraine should not be forced into territorial concessions. “Appeasement was never the path to peace,” Tusk said.
Talks and tensions continue
Trump later described his interaction with Zelenskyy as “cordial” but admitted it was a “pointed conversation.” The former president said both sides should “claim victory and let history decide” how the conflict is remembered.
He added that it was time for both nations to “make a deal,” calling the war “a tragedy defined by borders and blood.” Trump also confirmed plans to meet with Putin again in Budapest in the coming weeks to discuss a possible ceasefire arrangement.
U.S. and Ukrainian officials told reporters that Zelenskyy had hoped for an agreement on long-range U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles, but Trump did not commit to supplying them. Vice President JD Vance later stated that the president was still “evaluating the matter” in America’s best interest.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has intensified its drone and missile attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, striking several key facilities in recent weeks. The Ukrainian military said the operations aim to weaken Russia’s supply chain and pressure Moscow into negotiations.
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