Donald Trump stated that he hopes to hold talks with Vladimir Putin “as soon as possible” to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, while also accusing the Russian president of being the reason the war continues. Speaking via video link at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump suggested that efforts by the US to facilitate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine were likely to make progress.
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Trump says he and Russian leader Putin have agreed to begin 'negotiations' on ending Ukraine war
02-13, 2025“I really hope to be able to meet with President Putin very quickly to end this war,” he said. “Not for economic reasons or anything else, but because millions of lives are being wasted… It’s a slaughter. We really have to stop this war.” When asked if he thought the war would still be going on when the forum reconvenes next year, he appeared to directly challenge Putin. “Well, you have to ask Russia. Ukraine is ready to make a deal.”
Trump spoke to the Chinese President earlier this week and told him to help broker a settlement. However, he did not offer further details. He also added that the conflict is “absolutely a killing field and it’s time to end it.”
The Kremlin has stated that Russia is ready for a “mutually respectful dialogue” to end the war. This comes after Trump issued an ultimatum to Moscow, telling Putin that he must end his “ridiculous war” or Russia will face new tariffs, taxes, and sanctions. The US President warned Putin in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday: “We can do it the easy way, or we can do it the hard way – and the easy way is always better.”
However, Russian politicians and nationalists have reacted angrily to this tough intervention, calling it “disrespectful” and “insulting”. The two leaders have not spoken by phone since Trump left the White House. Notably, the Kremlin chose to downplay the threat, saying it “didn’t see anything particularly new”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “We carefully record all the nuances. We remain ready for dialogue. President Putin has said this many times – for an equal dialogue, for a mutually respectful dialogue.”
But Russian commentators have dismissed Trump's tough stance, saying it makes a settlement less likely. Konstantin Kosachev, the deputy chairman of the upper house of the Russian parliament, noted that Trump had made no demands of Ukraine in the post. “This confirms his level of understanding of the causes, current situation and prospects for resolving the Ukrainian crisis, is approximately the same as his understanding of the course and results of the Second World War,” Kosachev said in a statement. “That is, below the plinth, which cannot but cause regret and concern.”
Influential war bloggers, read by millions of Russians and sanctioned by authorities, have expressed outrage. One, Voenkor Kotonok, said Trump’s statement was “insulting, arrogant and self-satisfied”. Another, war correspondent Alexander Kots, speculated that the ceasefire in the Middle East had given Trump a misplaced sense of omnipotence. “Russia is not the Gaza Strip. Starting a dialogue with ultimatums is not the smartest move for a leader who calls himself a peacemaker. Moscow will never agree to any deal dictated by blackmail and threats,” Kots wrote.
Former Kremlin advisor Sergei Markov said Trump’s actions so far indicate he cannot bring peace to Ukraine, while a high-profile state media talk show host, Vladimir Solovyov, said Trump’s threats prove he is an enemy. “Is that the way to talk to great Russia?” an angry Solovyov told his audience. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week that any peace deal would require at least 200,000 peacekeepers.
