US President Donald Trump has called the war in Ukraine “a disaster” and hinted at a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia in the not-too-distant future. This comes as his administration pushes for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, though he declined on Wednesday to say whether he considers Ukraine an “equal member” in the process.
“We want to end that war, that war is a disaster,” Trump said. He told reporters at the White House that he would likely meet Putin in Saudi Arabia, but did not specify when the meeting would take place.
Trump’s comments came hours after he said the two leaders had spoken by telephone and agreed to immediately start Ukraine peace talks, suggesting a potential shift in relations that could leave Kyiv with a diminished role.
The US president said he currently has no plans to visit Ukraine but did not rule out the possibility of a future visit. He added that it would not be “practical” for Ukraine to have NATO membership, a position he said he was “ok” with.
Earlier on Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said in conjunction with NATO and Ukrainian defence ministers that it was “unrealistic” for Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders as part of any ceasefire agreement with Russia, or to gain NATO membership.
Trump said he believes Putin “wants peace”, adding that he is confident the Russian president wants to see the war end. He acknowledged that he was aware of the Defence Secretary’s statement about NATO membership being unlikely or impractical, saying he believes “probably that’s true”.
He said Washington would continue to send aid to Ukraine, “but we want it secured.”
“It’s an interesting question,” Trump said in the Oval Office when asked if he viewed Ukraine as an equal member of the process. “I think they have to make peace. Their people are being killed, and I think they have to make peace. I said that was not a good war to go into, and I think they have to make peace. That’s what I think.”
Asked about the prospect of ceding territory as part of negotiations to end the war, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would “have to do what he has to do.”
Trump claimed Zelensky’s poll numbers were sinking, and he reiterated his belief that Europe should be doing more to support Ukraine due to its proximity to the conflict.
Trump also called it “unlikely” that Ukraine would return to its pre-2014 borders, before Russia seized Crimea, as part of a negotiated ceasefire. “They took a lot of land, and they fought for that land and they lost a lot of soldiers,” Trump said. “I’m not making an opinion on it, but I’ve read a lot on it, and a lot of people think that’s unlikely. Some of it will come back. I think some of it will come back, yeah.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that Putin supported one of Trump’s main ideas: that it is time for our countries to “work together,” according to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The Russian president invited his American counterpart to visit Moscow.
Putin said Russia is ready to receive US officials specialising in areas of mutual interest, including the Ukrainian settlement.
Trump posted a statement on the Truth Social platform, declaring that the leaders agreed they need to end the Ukrainian crisis and arrange further communication.
