Trump Calls for War Freeze: US President Urges Ukraine and Russia to End Killing on Current Battle Lines
The global diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine has entered a critical and fraught phase following a White House meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the looming prospect of a summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
President Trump has publicly urged both Kyiv and Moscow to freeze the conflict along the current battle lines, a proposal that would allow Russia to retain large swaths of captured Ukrainian territory.
The call for an immediate ceasefire on the existing front lines was reiterated by President Trump after his reportedly tense encounter with President Zelenskyy on Friday, during which he also declined to commit to supplying Ukraine with the long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles Kyiv desperately sought.
Washington Tensions and the Freeze Proposal
President Trump’s public remarks following the White House meeting underscored his central position that the war must “stop immediately” to end the killing.
He proposed that the current battle line should become the dividing line, stating that a failure to do so could mean the war “may never be resolved.”
The Private Pressure
Reporting from sources familiar with the White House meeting suggests the discussions were far more strained than the official readout. Multiple reports indicate that:
• Territorial Demands:
President Trump privately pressed President Zelenskyy to consider a territorial deal, specifically urging the surrender of the entire Donbas region to Russia.
This pressure followed a phone call between Trump and Putin, in which the Russian President reportedly proposed a “territorial swap,” ceding smaller parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in exchange for all of Donetsk and Luhansk.
• Warning of Destruction:
One European official briefed on the meeting claimed President Trump warned Zelenskyy that if he did not “cut a deal,” he risked being “destroyed” by Russia.
• Missile Disappointment:
The anticipated delivery of Tomahawk missiles, which Kyiv viewed as a crucial tool to apply pressure on Moscow, was put on ice, as President Trump indicated he did not want to pursue an escalation with Russia ahead of his upcoming meeting with President Putin.
Ultimately, President Zelenskyy’s team reportedly managed to steer the public outcome towards President Trump endorsing a freeze of the current front lines—a position Zelenskyy publicly acknowledged as an “important point”—though it remains a difficult proposition for Ukraine, which maintains its sovereignty over all occupied land.
Zelenskyy Eyes Budapest Talks
Against the backdrop of American-led diplomacy, President Zelenskyy is now focused on the upcoming, and uninvited, summit between the US and Russian Presidents.
Seeking a Seat at the Table
President Trump and President Putin have agreed to hold a second summit in the coming weeks, provisionally set to take place in Budapest, Hungary.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, excluded from the arrangement, has made it clear he is ready to join the high-stakes discussions if he were invited, whether in a trilateral format or as part of a “shuttle diplomacy” arrangement.
The Budapest Problem
Zelenskyy, however, voiced significant wariness about the choice of venue. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is known for his close relationship with Moscow and his antagonistic stance towards Kyiv’s interests within the European Union.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Budapest was chosen due to President Trump and President Putin’s “warm” and “constructive” relations, respectively, with Orbán.
European Reaction
The dramatic diplomatic shift has prompted swift action and concern among European allies, who fear President Trump may “bully” Kyiv into an unacceptable deal that rewards Russian aggression.
European Union leaders are expected to deliberate this week on bolstering Ukraine’s support, including moving forward with a plan to use frozen Russian assets to secure a massive reparation loan for Kyiv.
The continued push for a ceasefire, however, remains complicated by the fact that Russia’s official position—as stated by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov—is that its demands, including for Ukraine to cede the Donbas, “remain unchanged,” effectively shooting down the simple “freeze” proposal.
Headline Points
- War Freeze Call:
President Trump publicly urged Russia and Ukraine to stop fighting immediately at the current battle lines to prevent the conflict from “never be[ing] resolved.”
• Tomahawk Denial:
President Trump declined to approve the sale of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, seemingly to avoid escalation ahead of his summit with President Putin.
• Budapest Summit:
Trump and Putin plan to meet in Budapest, Hungary, in the coming weeks, a venue chosen due to its host’s pro-Moscow stance.
• Zelenskyy’s Push:
President Zelenskyy has stated he is ready to attend the Budapest talks if invited, though he is wary of Hungary’s role as the host.
• Territorial Tensions:
Reports indicate President Trump privately pressed Zelenskyy to accept territorial concessions to Russia to clinch a deal, specifically referencing the surrender of the Donbas region.
• Kremlin Rejection:
Russia has dismissed the idea of a simple “freeze” along the current front lines, reiterating its demand for Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas.
