NEW JERSEY – US President Donald Trump has once again called for an immediate ceasefire and a peace deal to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as he questions whether Russian President Vladimir Putin genuinely desires to end the war.
Speaking at Morristown airport before boarding Air Force One on Sunday, Trump reiterated his long-standing stance that he could broker peace in Ukraine swiftly and without prolonged fighting.
During his brief remarks to the press, Trump expressed a sense of urgency, calling on Putin to “stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal.”
The president added that the framework for an agreement already exists and that both parties should finalize it to avoid further loss of life and destruction.
“We have the confines of a deal, I believe, and I want him to sign it,” Trump stated, referring to a US-proposed peace plan aimed at resolving the ongoing three-year conflict in Ukraine.
Trump’s call for peace comes one day after he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome at the funeral of Pope Francis.
This marked the first in-person meeting between Trump and Zelensky since their tense White House meeting in February, which saw Trump criticize Zelensky’s handling of the war and the Ukrainian leader’s refusal to negotiate with Russia.
Despite their past clashes, Trump characterized their meeting in Rome as “productive,” though he expressed doubts about Putin’s willingness to deescalate the situation.
Trump’s efforts, which have included diplomatic outreach to both Russia and Ukraine, have so far failed to bring about an end to the conflict.
Trump, who has long touted his ability to negotiate a swift resolution to the war, again raised the possibility of territorial concessions.
Specifically, Trump suggested that Zelensky may be willing to give up Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
“Oh, I think so,” Trump said when asked if he believed Zelensky would accept Russia’s claims on Crimea as part of a potential peace deal.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has claimed to have annexed four Ukrainian territories in the east and south, though these regions remain contested with ongoing military operations.
Despite claiming control, Russian forces have not fully occupied these areas, leaving their status uncertain.
Trump’s suggestion that Zelensky may concede these territories, including Crimea, as part of a peace deal represents a significant shift in the discourse surrounding the war’s resolution.
In contrast to the broader international community, which has largely stood behind Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Trump’s rhetoric emphasizes compromise and the need for Ukraine to make difficult concessions to secure peace.
His position echoes previous statements where he called on Zelensky to accept a ceasefire agreement that includes territorial adjustments, particularly in the disputed areas controlled by Russian-backed forces.
While Trump’s peace proposal has gained attention, particularly among those seeking a swift end to the conflict, his critics argue that such concessions could embolden Russia’s aggression and undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Zelensky has consistently rejected any peace deal that would involve the cession of Ukrainian territory to Russia, particularly Crimea, which holds significant cultural, strategic, and economic value to the Ukrainian people.
The discussions around peace have intensified as the war continues to devastate Ukraine’s civilian population, with tens of thousands of lives lost and millions displaced.
The call for peace by world leaders, including Trump, underscores the growing urgency to address the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war.
Trump’s comments also come amid a backdrop of international diplomatic pressure, as the European Union, and other global powers push for an end to the conflict through sanctions, military aid to Ukraine, and diplomatic channels.
