Trump Calls on Russia to Declare Immediate Ceasefire in Ukraine and Pursue Peace Negotiations

Donald Trump Calls for Ceasefire in Ukraine, Urges Immediate Peace Talks

President-elect Donald Trump has called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and the launch of peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. The statement, shared on his social network Truth Social on Sunday, follows his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris the previous day.

“Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness,” Trump wrote. He criticized the ongoing conflict, citing Ukraine’s heavy losses of “400,000 soldiers and many more civilians” over nearly three years of war.

Trump also connected the situation in Ukraine to the broader geopolitical landscape, suggesting that Russia’s involvement in Syria has waned due to its focus on Ukraine. He described Russia as being in a “weakened state” due to the prolonged conflict and its struggling economy.

“They [Russia] lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever,” Trump added. He emphasized the human toll of the war, warning that its continuation could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Reiterating his rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump expressed confidence in his ability to facilitate a resolution. “I know Vladimir well,” he stated, calling on Putin to seize the opportunity to act. He also suggested that China could participate in any future peace negotiations.

The call for peace followed a hastily arranged meeting in Paris between Trump, Zelensky, and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. Despite initial reluctance, Trump met with Zelensky for 45 minutes in what sources described as a “good and fruitful” discussion.

Zelensky later wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the discussions focused on achieving “a just peace.” He expressed gratitude to Trump for his resolve, highlighting their shared desire to see the war end swiftly and equitably.

The meeting took place shortly before Trump attended the reopening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.