While speaking with reporters on Sunday, President Donald Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants to stop fighting” in Ukraine, shooting down thoughts that he could extend the war into other countries.
“I think he wants to stop fighting. I see that. We spoke long and hard. [Middle East envoy] Steve Witkoff was with him for a very extended period, like about three hours. I think he wants to stop fighting,” Trump said after being asked what Putin wants.
Last week, Trump reportedly took a call from Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine, which is nearing the start of its third year. On Sunday, Trump noted that while the Russian forces are formidable, he thinks they are nearing the end.
“They have a big, powerful machine. You understand that,” Trump continued. “And they defeated Hitler, and they defeated Napoleon. You know, they’ve been fighting a long time. They’ve done it before … but I think he would like to stop fighting.”
The administration has made stopping the war in Ukraine a top priority to complete in Trump’s first few months in office.He had previously claimed on the campaign trail that he would stop the fighting on his first day in office.
While Trump spoke with Putin last week, his vice president, JD Vance, was meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said Sunday that he thinks Zelenksy “wants to end” the war as well, though several questions remain.
Reporters asked Trump about Putin’s territorial aspirations, specifically whether or not he wants the whole of Ukraine’s land, to which Trump said he asked the same question during their call.
“I think he wants to stop. That was my question to him. Because if he’s going to go on, that would have been a big problem for us, and that would have caused me a big problem because you just can’t let that happen,” Trump said.
Zelensky also appeared on NBC News’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, sharing that when he last talked to Trump, he told the president not to trust Putin when he claims he wants peace. The Ukrainian leader said that Putin is nothing but a “liar” who is “a little bit scared” of Trump.
“And I think the president has this chance, and he’s strong,” Zelensky said of Trump. “And I think that really he can push Putin to peace negotiations. Yes, I think so. I think he can, but don’t trust him. Don’t trust Putin. Don’t trust just words about ceasefire.”