Trump and Zelenskyy Express Hope for Ukraine-Russia Peace in White House Meeting:

Washington, D.C. — October 18, 2025 President Donald Trump expressed renewed optimism about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday. The meeting, Zelenskyy’s third visit to Washington since Trump’s return to office, marked a notable improvement in relations between the two leaders. Speaking to reporters, Trump said he believed there was a real opportunity to bring the war to an end, provided all parties show flexibility. “I think we have a chance of ending the war quickly if flexibility is shown,” he said, adding that while direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy are unlikely, he will continue negotiations with Putin during an upcoming summit in Hungary. Zelenskyy shared Trump’s cautious optimism, citing Russia’s recent battlefield losses and a ceasefire in Gaza, brokered by the Trump administration, as signs of diplomatic momentum. “I think this is a momentum to finish Russia’s war against Ukraine,” he said. “I’m confident that, with your help, we can stop this war, and we really need it.” The tone of Friday’s meeting was notably more cordial than Zelenskyy’s first visit under Trump earlier this year, which was marred by a tense exchange. At the time, Trump publicly criticized Zelenskyy’s position, while Vice President JD Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of lacking gratitude for U.S. support. That meeting ended abruptly. This time, Trump praised Zelenskyy as a “very strong leader” and even complimented his suit jacket, signaling a more cooperative spirit. Still, Trump stopped short of agreeing to Kyiv’s request for U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles, calling the weapons powerful but potentially escalatory. “They’re a very powerful weapon, but they’re a very dangerous weapon,” Trump said. “We want Tomahawks also. We don’t want to be giving away things that we need to protect our country.” Zelenskyy suggested a potential trade—offering mass-produced Ukrainian drones in exchange for the Tomahawk missiles. Trump expressed openness to the idea but said further discussions would be needed. On the diplomatic front, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to pursue peace, stating Kyiv is open to talks with Russia in any format—bilateral or multilateral. However, he avoided directly addressing whether Ukraine would give up its NATO ambitions to secure peace, a sticking point for Russia. “Security guarantees remain important to us,” he said, while also noting the potential for a bilateral defense agreement with the U.S. “For us, bilateral security guarantees between me and President Trump is very important. We didn’t speak in detail, but this is the most important document.” Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, citing concerns over NATO’s expansion. Ukraine initially repelled Russia’s attempt to seize Kyiv, but the war has since become a prolonged conflict focused on Ukraine’s eastern regions. Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. provided billions in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Trump, in contrast, has prioritized diplomacy and signaled a desire to wind down U.S. support—although he recently claimed Ukraine could win militarily and reclaim all occupied territory. Trump spoke to Putin by phone on Thursday, calling the conversation “productive” ahead of their planned meeting in Hungary. When asked whether Putin might be using diplomacy to stall and regroup, Trump replied, “I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well. It’s possible, but I think he wants to make a deal.

NEWS