After meeting with Zelenskyy, Donald Trump calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine

He described the conflict as “madness” and stressed that it needed to stop.

Trump’s call came just hours after his first in-person meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris. The two leaders spoke at length about the war and the possibilities of reaching a peace deal. Trump also posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying, “Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness.”

Trump, who had recently won the election, mentioned the heavy losses Ukraine has suffered. He said Ukraine had lost around 400,000 soldiers, a number that includes both deaths and injuries. Ukrainian officials have reported that approximately 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, with 370,000 wounded. This makes it clear just how costly the war has been for Ukraine.

Trump also mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin and said that this was his time to make a move. He added, “China can help. The World is waiting!” Trump’s comments were aimed at encouraging world leaders to push for a solution and bring an end to the violence.

During the same trip to Paris, Trump and Zelenskyy met on Saturday, where they discussed the situation for about an hour. Officials from both the French and Ukrainian sides described the meeting as “good and productive,” which shows a shared hope that peace talks can lead to a resolution.

However, while Trump called for an immediate ceasefire, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy shared his concerns about the terms of peace. Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needs “effective guarantees” before agreeing to any peace deal. He expressed that while Ukraine desires peace more than anyone, it is important to avoid rushing into a ceasefire without solid guarantees. He warned that without proper guarantees, a ceasefire could be temporary and might lead to more fighting in the future.

Zelenskyy’s concern comes from the belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin could break any peace agreement, as he has done in the past. For peace to work, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needs a guarantee that Russia will stop its occupation and that the country will not suffer further losses.

On the Russian side, the Kremlin responded to Trump’s calls for a ceasefire by saying that Russia is still open to negotiations. However, Russia has its own demands. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia’s position on Ukraine and its conditions for ending the war were already set out by President Putin earlier this year.

Putin’s terms for a ceasefire in Ukraine include Ukraine completely withdrawing its forces from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, areas that Russia claims as part of its own territory. Putin also demands that Ukraine officially drop its ambitions to join NATO and that the rights of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine be protected.

These demands have sparked criticism from Ukraine and the international community, with many seeing them as excessive and unrealistic. Ukraine has firmly rejected Russia’s conditions, and many world leaders have agreed that Russia’s terms would not lead to a fair or lasting peace.

While both sides have made their positions clear, the situation remains tense. Trump’s call for peace shows a desire to end the war, but it is unclear how these talks will progress with both Russia and Ukraine holding firm to their own demands. The world is watching closely, hoping for a solution that brings an end to the violence and allows Ukraine to rebuild its future.

The war has caused immense suffering, and the need for peace has never been more urgent. As world leaders, including Trump, push for a ceasefire, it remains to be seen whether both Russia and Ukraine can find common ground for lasting peace.