Trump Urges Ukraine to Pursue Peace Deal with Russia, Regardless of Method

Amidst escalating tensions with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, United States President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Ukraine to reach a peace agreement with Russia. Speaking at the White House, Trump reiterated his stance that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is responsible for delays in peace efforts to end the protracted conflict. "Zelenskyy has to want to settle this war, and if he doesn’t, I think it’s going to be a very bad thing," Trump stated, noting Russia's seemingly inexhaustible supply of personnel. He also recalled a significant Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy in February 2025, suggesting a better deal could have been secured then. "He’s going to have to want to make a deal, because I don’t think his people are going to stand for it any longer," Trump told reporters.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and European leaders in Oslo, Norway, to discuss ending the war. Following the meeting, Zelenskyy posted on social media, indicating that Ukraine has "some clear ideas on how to get to peace" and expressed a desire for American involvement in presenting these ideas to Russia. He proposed a potential trilateral meeting between leaders to address critical issues. Zelenskyy also confirmed that Witkoff would travel to Russia for further discussions, stating, "Let’s see what Putin has to say." When questioned about a potential meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, Trump acknowledged the significant animosity between them, remarking, "It’s hard for them to be in the same room. I don’t care how it’s done."

Starlink Controversy

Trump's comments coincide with White House actions to pressure Ukraine into a deal with Russia. Last week, Ukrainian officials reported disruptions in Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite system, crucial for Ukraine's communications and intelligence gathering against Russian attacks. The source of these restrictions remains unclear. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggested the White House was responsible, stating that "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS." Reuters, citing US and Western officials, also reported the order originated from the White House. However, a Wall Street Journal report suggested US officials blamed Musk himself for the slowdown. Trump and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied government involvement, attributing the restrictions to SpaceX.

Building Ties with Putin

Meanwhile, Trump has actively worked to improve US-Russia relations. In August 2025, he invited Putin to Alaska, marking the Russian leader's first visit to US soil in a decade. This month, Trump expressed willingness to meet with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping for trilateral denuclearisation talks. Additionally, Trump announced a deal to acquire diesel from Russia, a significant shift from previous US economic pressure on Moscow. He also waived new economic sanctions under the bipartisan Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which he had signed earlier, to honor the late senator. These sanctions would have targeted Russian officials, banks, and tankers, and imposed tariffs on countries buying Russian oil.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the waiver, explaining that the law's provisions allowed for such actions in national security interests. Rubio stated that Trump was employing a "balancing act" to manage US economic restrictions and their global impact, noting that "When you do that pressure, sometimes it spills over and has a negative impact on other countries."