Trump pushes ceasefire freezing Russian-occupied territory

On Oct. 17, 2025, President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a working lunch and several hours of talks at the White House that multiple officials described to CNN as tense, frank, and at times uncomfortable. According to European officials briefed on the meeting, Trump insisted Ukraine make territorial concessions to Russia to end the war, grew frustrated, and raised his voice multiple times. The meeting included Trump, Zelenskyy, Vice President JVJD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Trump made clear in what one official called a direct and honest conversation that Zelenskyy would not receive the long-range Tomahawk missiles he was seeking.

Trump refused Zelenskyy's request for Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of 1,600 kilometers (995 miles) that could strike Moscow and other Russian cities. Trump told reporters that the U.S. needs Tomahawks too and can't deplete stockpiles, stating, You never know when you're going to need them and noting he has an obligation to maintain full U.S. stockpiles. Zelenskyy had proposed a drone-for-Tomahawks exchange where Ukraine would provide the U.S. with advanced drones in return for the missiles. Trump acknowledged it would be an escalation to sell the weapons but said, We'd much rather have them not need Tomahawks, would much rather have the war be over, to be honest.

Shortly after the meeting ended, Trump posted on Truth Social calling the meeting very interesting and cordial but stating, I think it is time to stop the killing, and make a DEAL. Referring to Russia and Ukraine, Trump wrote, They should stop where they are. His post stated, Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. Let both claim Victory, let History decide! This represents a shift from last month when Trump met Zelenskyy at the U.N. General Assembly and said Ukraine might be able to regain all its territory lost to Russia.

Trump's position changed dramatically after his 2.5-hour phone call with Putin on Oct. 16, 2025, one day before the Zelenskyy meeting. According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, Putin told Trump that Tomahawk transfers would not change battlefield conditions but would severely undermine prospects for peaceful settlement and damage U.S.-Russia relations. Putin also warned that such transfers would risk drawing U.S. forces into direct conflict. Trump told Putin he was not inclined to approve advanced weapons that could strike deep into Russian territory. After the Putin call, Trump announced plans to meet Putin in Budapest, Hungary, within two weeks.

During the White House meeting, Trump told Zelenskyy that one official said Trump was under the impression that Ukraine is seeking to escalate and prolong the conflict and is worried about potential losses during an upcoming harsh winter. CNN reported that Trump's position indicated he wants to see the fighting stop and if we can end it quickly, and I think we can. Trump repeatedly referenced his success brokering the Gaza ceasefire and said the Ukraine war was more complicated but could still be resolved. Trump told reporters there's a lot of bad blood between Zelenskyy and Putin and suggested a double meeting format in Budapest where both leaders would participate but not necessarily together.

Zelenskyy cast the White House meeting as a pointed conversation but maintained optimism, posting on social media that its outcome can really help bring this war closer to an end. In an NBC Meet the Press interview recorded after the meeting, Zelenskyy said, It's good that President Trump didn't say 'no,' but for today, didn't say 'yes' regarding Tomahawks. He stated, We need Tomahawks because it's very difficult just to operate only with Ukrainian drones. Zelenskyy told reporters that Zelenskyy's proposition of providing drones in exchange for missiles remains under discussion.

The timing of Trump's pressure on Ukraine came during continuing Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. On the night before Zelenskyy's arrival in 🌲Washington, Russia launched concentrated strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk region, including Pavlograd and Kryvyi Rih. Eight Ukrainian regions experienced blackouts after Russian forces fired hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles targeting energy infrastructure. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, reported outages in Kyiv and had to stop natural gas extraction in Poltava region. Naftogaz, Ukraine's state-owned oil and gas company, reported natural gas infrastructure was damaged for the sixth time in Oct. 2025.

After the White House meeting, European leaders held a virtual call with Zelenskyy to reiterate steadfast support for Ukraine and gave their unwavering commitment to Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, according to a statement from the UK's Downing Street. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters following Trump's call with Putin that Trump believes a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy was possible and has not closed the door on a potential meeting between the leaders. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who Trump spoke with about the planned Budapest summit, posted on social media that If Europe wants real peace, its war plans must be scrapped and everything must be recalibrated, signaling alignment with Trump's pressure on Ukraine to accept territorial losses.