In a series of dramatic exchanges that have sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin’s terms for ending the grinding war in Ukraine. According to Financial Times and corroborated by multiple agencies, the tense October 17, 2025, meeting at the White House devolved into a "shouting match" more than once, with Trump reportedly cursing frequently and issuing stark warnings about Ukraine’s future if it refused to compromise.
Officials familiar with the meeting described a combative atmosphere as Trump pressed Zelenskyy to surrender the Donbas region to Moscow—a move that would effectively leave much of the disputed territory in Russian hands. Though Trump later endorsed a temporary freeze of the current front lines, his tone throughout was uncompromising. As one European official told Financial Times, Trump echoed Putin’s own language, insisting that the Russian leader viewed the conflict as a "special operation, not even a war." He warned Zelenskyy bluntly, "If Putin wants it, he will destroy you."
The frustration on Trump’s part was palpable. During the meeting, he reportedly threw aside Ukraine’s battlefield maps, complaining, "This red line, I don’t even know where this is. I’ve never been there." Sources said he was "sick" of being shown the shifting front lines—an exasperation that mirrored his push for a swift, if controversial, resolution.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One just two days later, on October 19, Trump doubled down on his stance. He told Associated Press that the Donbas region should be "cut up," essentially leaving the status quo in place, with much of it under Russian control. "Let it be cut the way it is," Trump said. "It’s cut up right now. You can leave it the way it is right now." He added, "You stop at the battle line—go home, stop fighting, stop killing people." His message was clear: both sides should halt hostilities and let history decide the victor.
Trump’s remarks came on the heels of escalating violence on the ground. Mere hours before his comments, Ukrainian drones struck the Orenburg gas processing plant in southern Russia, a facility operated by Gazprom. The attack sparked a massive fire, forced the suspension of gas processing from Kazakhstan, and damaged critical infrastructure, according to Russian and Kazakh authorities. This strike is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to target Russian energy sites that bankroll Moscow’s military campaign.
Meanwhile, Russian forces intensified their own strikes inside Ukraine. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, at least 11 people were injured when Russian drones hit residential buildings in the Shakhtarske area. In a separate incident, a coal mine was targeted, though all 192 miners were evacuated safely, local officials confirmed.
Trump’s approach to the war has been marked by a willingness to consider territorial concessions for peace. In a Fox News interview, he suggested that Ukraine may need to "give up land" to secure an end to the conflict. When asked if Putin might agree to a settlement without seizing significant Ukrainian territory, Trump replied, "Well, he’s going to take something." He elaborated, "They fought and he has a lot of property. He’s won certain property. We’re the only nation that goes in, wins a war, and then leaves." These comments, while controversial, reflect a pragmatic—if unpopular—realpolitik attitude toward the intractable conflict.
Yet, when pressed on whether he had told Zelenskyy that Ukraine must give up the entire Donbas region, Trump denied it. Speaking to Reuters, he stated, "Let it be cut the way it is. It’s cut up right now. I think 78% of the land is already taken by Russia." He added, "You leave it the way it is right now. They can...negotiate something later on down the line." This nuanced position signals a shift toward urging compromise, especially after reports that Putin had offered Ukraine eastern Donbas in exchange for parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia during a recent call.
Diplomatic efforts appear far from over. Trump and Putin have agreed to schedule a second summit within the next two weeks, likely in Budapest, after their August 15 meeting in Alaska failed to yield significant progress. The upcoming talks are being watched closely by European leaders, many of whom are wary of any deal that could legitimize Russian territorial gains at the expense of Ukrainian sovereignty.
On the military front, the conflict shows no signs of abating. Ukrainian prosecutors reported that Russian forces have begun modifying their aerial-guided bombs to strike deeper into Ukrainian territory. In Kharkiv, officials cited the deployment of a new rocket-powered aerial bomb, the UMPB-5R, capable of traveling up to 130 kilometers. The city of Lozava was among the latest targets. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it intercepted 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine said it had downed 40 out of 62 drones launched by Russia.
Despite repeated Ukrainian requests, Trump has not committed to supplying Tomahawk missiles, which would be Ukraine’s longest-range weapon and could allow strikes deep into Russian territory. The absence of such advanced weaponry leaves Ukraine reliant on drones and existing munitions as it seeks to counter Russia’s technological edge.
Throughout the negotiations, Trump has maintained that enough blood has been shed. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, "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! This is a War that would have never started if I were President." The sentiment, while resonant for some, has drawn criticism from those who argue that freezing the conflict at current lines would reward Russian aggression and undermine international law.
For Zelenskyy and his government, the stakes could not be higher. The Ukrainian leader has resisted calls to cede territory, arguing that any compromise would embolden Moscow and set a dangerous precedent for other would-be aggressors. Yet, with Russian forces pressing their advantage and Western support appearing increasingly conditional, Kyiv faces mounting pressure to consider difficult choices.
As the world watches, the fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance. The coming weeks—marked by high-stakes summits, escalating military actions, and fraught negotiations—will likely determine whether the war continues unabated or gives way to an uneasy, possibly temporary, peace.
