Trump Proposes Dramatic End to Ukraine War: Victory for All!
In a surprising stance reflecting a shift in his approach to the Ukrainian war, U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday called on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to immediately cease fighting, suggesting that both sides declare "victory" and leave the judgment to history.
Trump stated in a post on his platform "Truth Social":
"My meeting with President Zelensky was interesting and very friendly. I told him, as I told Putin, it is time to stop the killing and come to an agreement. Let both declare victory, and let the shooting stop."
* Rejected Additional Military Support for Ukraine
Trump's remarks came amid ongoing Ukrainian requests for increased U.S. military support, particularly for Tomahawk missiles, which have not been accepted by the U.S. administration.
Zelensky confirmed during a press conference after his over two-hour meeting with Trump at the White House that the United States has currently refused to supply Kyiv with these long-range missiles, which have a range of 1600 kilometers.
Zelensky said:
"I believe Russia really fears Tomahawk missiles because they are a powerful weapon. It is good that President Trump did not say (no), but he has not said yes either so far."
And despite the Ukrainian president's proposal to exchange these missiles for "thousands of Ukrainian drones," Trump did not seem convinced by the idea, nor was he persuaded by the "maps" Zelensky presented of potential Russian targets, according to an informed Ukrainian source.
* Trump: Putin Wants to End the War
While Zelensky considered his Russian counterpart "not ready for peace," Trump asserted the opposite, revealing a lengthy phone conversation he had with Putin on Thursday, stating:
"I believe Putin wants to end this war. We made significant progress during the call."
Russia announced that the call was "very frank and based on trust."
* Upcoming Summit Between Trump and Putin in Budapest
In a notable development, Trump and Putin announced an agreement to hold a new summit "soon" in the Hungarian capital, Budapest. While media outlets expressed doubts about Russia's intentions, Trump said:
"Perhaps Putin is trying to buy time, but I am good at this kind of thing. I believe he wants an agreement."
The previous summit between the two leaders took place in Alaska on August 15, but it ended without any tangible progress toward resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
* Concerns in Kyiv Over U.S.-Russian Thaw
The renewed rapprochement between Trump and Putin raises increasing concerns in Ukraine, especially with Trump's refusal to impose harsh sanctions on Moscow, as he had previously hinted.
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has begun to break the isolation imposed by Western countries on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
* Positive Messages from Trump to Zelensky
Despite the tensions, Trump conveyed positive words to Zelensky during their meeting, saying:
"It is an honor for me to be with a very strong leader, a man who has been through a lot, and a man I know well."
Zelensky communicated with his European allies by phone after the meeting, according to a source in the Ukrainian delegation.
* Russia Continues Escalation on the Ground
Meanwhile, as winter approaches, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, announcing on Friday its control over three Ukrainian villages in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions (east).
* Trump: Putin Sees Ceasefire in Gaza as "Wonderful"
During the meeting, Trump also revealed that he discussed the Gaza issue with Putin, stating:
"Putin sees a ceasefire there as wonderful, and he was very generous during our conversation."
The international scene is becoming increasingly complex with Trump's renewed involvement in mediations and his declared rapprochement with Putin.
Will the coming months witness a radical shift in the course of the war?
Or is it still too early to end a conflict that has burdened the world for over three years?
