Washington D.C.: In a heated White House meeting on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Russia’s conditions for ending the war, warning that Vladimir Putin would “destroy” Ukraine if it refused to comply, the Financial Times reported.
According to multiple European officials cited by the paper, the tense encounter frequently devolved into shouting, with Trump “cursing all the time” and dismissing Zelenskyy’s appeals for continued U.S. support. Trump allegedly told the Ukrainian leader he was “losing the war” and needed to “cut a deal or face destruction,” echoing language used by the Kremlin.
Monday Live: Trump Warns Zelenski- Accept Russia’s Terms Or Be Destroyed https://t.co/1FdSrBWLoV
— INFOWARS (@infowars) October 20, 2025
Trump Echoes Putin’s Line
Officials said Trump brushed aside intelligence maps detailing frontline positions and insisted that Kyiv surrender the entire Donbas region to Russia. His remarks reportedly mirrored talking points Putin had raised during a phone call with Trump just a day earlier.
The meeting came as Trump renewed his push to “end the war” following the recent Gaza ceasefire deal, which he has touted as a model for restoring global stability. After his call with Putin, the two leaders agreed to meet in Budapest “within weeks” to discuss Ukraine’s future — a move that has unsettled European allies.
Speaking later to reporters, Trump appeared to outline his preferred settlement plan: freezing the conflict along current battle lines. “Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by war and guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim victory; let history decide,” he said.
Trump Softens on Ukraine Aid
During the meeting and in subsequent remarks, Trump signaled reluctance to continue large-scale arms supplies to Kyiv, including the delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles. “We’d much rather have the war be over, to be honest,” he told reporters in Florida, implying that Moscow could retain control over territories already seized.
Zelenskyy Pushes Back, Warns Against Appeasement
Returning to Kyiv after his U.S. visit, President Zelenskyy urged allies not to “appease Russia” or trade justice for peace. “Ukraine will never grant terrorists any bounty for their crimes, and we count on our partners to uphold this very position,” he wrote on social media.
Zelenskyy, who had arrived in Washington hoping to secure Tomahawk missiles, left empty-handed as Trump appeared focused on pursuing a diplomatic breakthrough with Putin. The Ukrainian leader has since called for a new meeting of the European-led “coalition of the willing” to reinforce support for Kyiv.
