Trump asks Russia and Ukraine to “stop where they are” after meeting with Zelensky

President Donald Trump on Friday urged Russia and Ukraine to immediately cease fighting as he renews efforts to resolve the war that has lasted more than three years.

Trump issued the demand on his Truth Social media platform shortly afterward after concluding an “interesting” and “cordial” meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.

“But I told him, as I have also strongly suggested to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin, that it is time to stop the killing and come to an agreement,” Trump wrote. "Enough blood has been spilled, with property lines defined by war and guts. They should stop where they are."

Trump made it clear to Zelensky in a "direct and honest" conversation that, for now, the Ukrainian leader would not be receiving the long-range missiles that can reach deep into Russia that he was seeking.

Zelensky, speaking to reporters outside the White House after the meeting, said he agreed with Trump on an immediate cease-fire, to freeze the battle lines and negotiate an end to the war.

“I think we have to stop where we are, the president is right,” Zelensky said, but added that negotiations must be held to decide the fate of Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation.

“The question of territories is very delicate, very delicate, and actually the most difficult,” Zelensky said, adding that the Russians “want to occupy everything.”

“But Now they want, before any ceasefire, to reach an agreement on land, on our territories,” the Ukrainian president continued. “Our position is that, look, we first need a ceasefire, so we need to sit down, talk, and understand where we are, and I think this is the most important first step.”

Zelensky traveled to the United States to pressure Trump to provide more support to Ukraine and increase pressure on Putin—militarily, economically, and diplomatically.

While Trump expressed his belief last month that Ukraine could regain all of its Russian-occupied territory, the USpresident sounded optimistic about the possibility of a deal after a phone call with Putin on Thursday.

“Let both of you declare victory, let history decide! No more shooting, no more dying, no more massive and unsustainable spending,” Trump wrote in his social media post.

“ENOUGH! GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES IN PEACE!”

Trump is preparing to meet with Putin in Budapest soon in an attempt to end the war.

His last meeting with Putin was this summer in Alaska, and he walked away from the meeting backtracking on his demand for a ceasefire. Instead, he encouraged Putin and Zelensky to meet for negotiations, which never materialized.

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