U.S. President Donald Trump issued a striking appeal to Russia and Ukraine following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Friday. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump called for an immediate end to the conflict and urged both sides to reach an agreement by “standing their ground.”
Trump: “Enough Blood Has Been Shed—Let History Decide”
In a post on Friday evening, Trump reacted strongly to the ongoing war: “It’s time to stop the killing and make a DEAL! Enough blood has been shed; territorial boundaries have been defined by War and Courage. They should stand their ground. Let both claim victory—let history decide!”
Trump, who claimed the war would never have started during his presidency, called on both sides to return peacefully to their families, stating, “No more armed conflict, no more deaths, and no more spending of vast and unsustainable amounts of money.”
Zelensky Emphasizes Negotiations and Security Guarantees
Trump and Zelensky met on Friday for a working lunch that lasted more than two hours. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Zelensky noted that Trump’s view that they should “stand where we are and then talk” referred to negotiations. The Ukrainian President said he believed a ceasefire was the first step toward ending the war and that he was certain negotiations would take place.
However, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine “will not cede its territory to Russia” and that any territorial concessions to Moscow would require approval through a nationwide referendum. He also emphasized the need for strong security guarantees from the United States. Zelensky said, “I am afraid—and I think our nation is afraid as well—that if there is a ceasefire, we will need security guarantees from the United States that Putin will not resort to aggression again.”
Tomahawk Missile Supply on the Agenda
Zelensky made the trip to the White House with the aim of convincing the U.S. to provide Tomahawk missiles capable of reaching deep into Russian territory. However, Trump expressed hesitation about using missiles supplied by the U.S., noting that he was also considering the country’s obligation to be fully equipped.
Zelensky, for his part, said he was not pessimistic about acquiring Tomahawk missiles in the future and that the possibility of acquiring them was “realistic.”
Advanced Weapons Support from the U.S. and Pressure on Putin
Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies confirmed that Ukraine has acquired better U.S. weapons, such as ATACMS—which provide a range of 300–700 kilometers—and Long-Range Strike Munitions (ERAM) launched from F-16s. Montgomery said, “This is how you put pressure on Vladimir Putin; weapons that challenge his forces mean he can never win.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also warned at NATO headquarters that if the war does not end, the U.S. and NATO allies will “make Russia pay a price for its continued aggression,” adding, “Firepower is coming.”
Current Status of the War and Future Discussions
According to the Institute for the Study of War, although Russia has continued its attacks, there have been very few changes on the front lines this year. Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) noted that Russia has captured only 1% of Ukraine over the past two years and has suffered heavy losses on the battlefield.
This meeting between Trump and Zelensky took place following a phone call Trump had with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day before. The two leaders (Trump and Putin) agreed to meet in Budapest, Hungary, within the next two weeks. Ukrainian advocacy groups, however, have expressed skepticism that the Budapest meeting will lead to any real results, stating that Putin is insincere.
