U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Friday for what he described as a “very interesting and cordial” meeting. With the Russia-Ukraine conflict stretching beyond three and a half years, both leaders pushed for a path to peace without immediate deeper military commitments.
In a bold call on Truth Social, Trump urged Russia and Ukraine to “stop where they are” and strike a deal to end bloodshed. He wrote, “It is time to stop the killing, and make a DEAL! Let both claim Victory, let History decide!”
Despite hopes for broader negotiations, Trump ruled out a U.S.-Russia-Ukraine summit in the near future. He said his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary will be a “double meeting,” reflecting lingering tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.
The prospect of supplying U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine also took a back seat. Trump cautioned that sending these weapons could spark a “big escalation,” noting that the United States still needs them for its own security. “We’d much rather have the war be over,” he said.
Zelenskyy, realistic about the barriers to new arms deliveries, confirmed that while long-range weapons were discussed, both sides agreed to avoid public talk to prevent further escalation.
This White House visit marks Zelenskyy’s third during Trump’s second term and follows a lengthy phone call Trump had with Putin a day earlier. Although Trump and Putin met in Alaska last August, ceasefire talks have stalled, and no binding agreement has emerged.
As global eyes turn to the upcoming Hungary talks, young leaders and citizens around the world will be watching whether these diplomatic overtures can truly shift the tide after years of conflict.
Reference(s):
Trump meets Zelenskyy, rules out trilateral summit, Tomahawk sales
cgtn.com
