Donald Trump has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach an immediate settlement to end the war in Ukraine, urging both sides to “stop the madness.” The president-elect made his comments on social media, acknowledging that he is actively working to resolve the nearly three-year-long conflict.
In his post, Trump stated that “Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness,” emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire and the commencement of negotiations. Highlighting his familiarity with Putin, he asserted, “This is his time to act. China can help. The world is waiting!”
During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump confirmed his commitment to ending the conflict when asked if he was working toward that goal, responding simply, “I am.”
He reiterated his openness to potentially reducing U.S. military aid to Ukraine, suggesting that the country should “possibly” prepare for cuts. Furthermore, Trump warned that the U.S. could leave NATO if member states do not increase their contributions but clarified that he would remain in the alliance if they paid their dues fairly.
While he declined to confirm whether he had spoken with Putin since winning the election, he asserted that he did not want to take any actions that might hinder negotiations. His call for an immediate ceasefire distinguishes his approach from that of incumbent President Joe Biden, who has avoided pushing for an immediate truce with Kyiv.
Trump’s remarks followed discussions he had over the weekend with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where leaders gathered for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral after the devastating 2019 fire.
Zelenskyy characterized his conversations with Trump as “constructive,” but cautioned that Ukraine requires a “just and robust peace that Russians will not destroy within a few years.” He emphasized the necessity of “effective peace guarantees” and stated, “Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else. Russia brought war to our land.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s openness to talks with Ukraine. Meanwhile, Washington has been increasing support for Ukraine, with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announcing nearly $1 billion in additional weaponry on Saturday.
In a separate social media update, Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers since the invasion began in February 2022, with another 370,000 injured. Western officials have noted that recent months of grueling positional warfare in eastern Ukraine have led to record casualties for both sides, with tens of thousands killed and injured each month.
Credit: Sky News
