Stop Where You Are’: Trump Urges Ukraine and Russia to Halt Fighting, Signals Shift Toward Ceasefire

President Donald Trump on Friday called on Ukraine and Russia to “stop where they are” and end the ongoing war, following a lengthy White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump’s remarks — made in a Truth Social post after more than two hours of talks — appeared to signal a renewed push for an immediate ceasefire, even if it means Kyiv relinquishing territory seized by Moscow.
“Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by war and guts,” Trump wrote. “They should stop where they are. Let both claim victory, let history decide!”

Speaking later in Florida, where he’s spending the weekend, Trump reiterated his stance, telling reporters the two sides should “stop the war immediately” and suggesting the current frontlines could become the de facto border.
“You go by the battle line wherever it is — otherwise it’s too complicated,” he said.

The comments mark a shift from recent weeks, when Trump had shown greater openness to supporting Ukraine’s bid to reclaim lost territory. After meeting Zelensky in New York last month, he had even said Kyiv could “win back everything” taken since Russia’s 2022 invasion — a sharp contrast to his earlier insistence that Ukraine would need to cede land to end the conflict.

Zelensky, asked about Trump’s remarks after Friday’s meeting, said it was time to “stop and talk,” but avoided directly addressing the question of territorial concessions.
“The president is right — we have to stop where we are, and then to speak,” Zelensky said.

Trump’s tone appeared to shift after a Thursday phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two discussed possible peace talks. Trump said he plans to meet Putin in Budapest, Hungary, in the coming weeks, though it’s unclear whether Zelensky will be included.

The US president also hinted he is leaning against selling long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv — weapons Ukrainian officials view as vital to pressuring Moscow into negotiations. Zelensky had proposed a deal in which Ukraine would provide advanced drones to the US in exchange for the missiles, but Trump expressed hesitation.
“I have an obligation to make sure we’re completely stocked up as a country,” Trump said. “We’d much rather have the war be over, to be honest.”

Putin, according to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, warned Trump that supplying Kyiv with Tomahawks “won’t change the situation on the battlefield but would cause substantial damage” to US-Russia relations.

Friday’s meeting was the fifth between Trump and Zelensky since Trump’s return to office in January. The president said it was “to be determined” whether Zelensky would participate in the proposed Hungary talks, suggesting separate meetings with each leader might be more productive.
“These two leaders do not like each other,” Trump said. “We want to make it comfortable for everybody.”

Zelensky, however, dismissed the idea that the conflict was about personal animosity.
“They attacked us — so they are an enemy,” he said. “It is not about feelings. Undoubtedly, we hate the enemy.”

Trump has long vowed to “end the war quickly,” but his peace initiative has faced setbacks. Despite high-profile meetings with both leaders earlier this year, Moscow has shown little interest in direct talks and has intensified its attacks.

Asked whether he feared Putin was stalling for time, Trump acknowledged the risk but expressed confidence.
“I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well,” he said. “I think I’m pretty good at this stuff.”