In a highly charged and tense meeting held behind closed doors at the White House, US President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept Russian demands to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to a report by the Financial Times, the encounter, which took place on a Friday, was marked by heated exchanges and dramatic moments, including Trump reportedly throwing maps of Ukraine’s frontline across the table in frustration. This meeting is described as one of the most intense interactions between the two leaders since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
During the meeting, Trump pressed Zelensky to agree to Russia’s terms, which included ceding control of the entire eastern Donbas region to Moscow. The US president warned that refusal to comply would result in the destruction of Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin. This confrontation came shortly after Trump had a phone call with Putin, during which the Russian leader reportedly demanded a formal Ukrainian surrender of Donbas. In return, Putin promised to return parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions — territories that Russia had earlier demanded to annex fully by 2024.
The atmosphere between Trump and Zelensky deteriorated as the US president raised his voice and used profanities during the discussion. Despite the pressure, Zelensky managed to persuade Trump to support a ceasefire along the current battle lines. Zelensky was in Washington primarily to seek military assistance, specifically requesting long-range Tomahawk missiles to help Ukraine continue its fight. However, Trump’s focus remained on pushing for a peace deal that would eliminate the need for such weapons. Zelensky attempted to negotiate by offering thousands of Ukrainian-made drones in exchange for the Tomahawks, a proposal that Trump seemed open to but cautioned could escalate tensions between the US and Russia.
In a subsequent public clarification, President Trump stated that Ukraine “could still win” the war but expressed skepticism about the likelihood, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of war. Addressing comments he made earlier at the United Nations, Trump clarified, “I never said that they would win it. I said they could win it. Anything can happen. War is a very strange thing.” These remarks came during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, where the two leaders signed a multi-billion-dollar agreement related to critical minerals and defense cooperation.
Ahead of the meeting with Zelensky, Trump asserted his belief that he alone could broker peace between the two leaders, announcing plans for a “double meeting” in Budapest, Hungary. He intended to meet with Putin and Zelensky separately, citing the mutual animosity between the two heads of state as a barrier to joint discussions. Trump described himself as a mediator capable of resolving the conflict and hinted that the upcoming summit could pave the way for peace.
Despite the president’s optimism, his stance on Ukraine has fluctuated over time. Before his August meeting with Putin, Trump suggested that land swaps might be necessary for peace. However, in the following month, he expressed that Ukraine could regain all territories currently held by Russia. This inconsistency was reflected in the contentious White House meeting, which highlighted the fundamental divide between Trump’s desire for a settlement on Moscow’s terms and Zelensky’s insistence on continued support to resist Russian aggression.
Zelensky, meanwhile, has urged the US to adopt a firmer approach towards Putin. In an interview with NBC News, the Ukrainian president called for increased pressure on Russia, comparing Putin to Hamas but noting that Russia’s military capabilities and the scale of the conflict are far greater. Zelensky emphasized the need for long-range US Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory to shift the balance in Ukraine’s favor. While Trump had hinted at the possibility of providing such weapons, he tempered expectations following his meeting with Zelensky, stating that he neither said “yes” nor “no” to the request.
The planned summit in Budapest remains tentative, with no finalized date. Trump announced that he would meet with Putin there for a second round of talks aimed at ending the war. Zelensky expressed willingness to attend, reiterating his commitment to direct dialogue despite labeling Putin a “terrorist.” He underscored that any peace deal must include the voices of both parties directly affected by the conflict, stating, “How can there be some deals without us about us?”
Throughout the discussions, Trump praised Zelensky’s resilience amid the crisis, acknowledging the hardships Ukraine’s leader has endured. However, when pressed about whether Ukraine must relinquish territory to achieve peace