Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, President Donald Trump called for both Ukraine and Russia to stop the war at the current battle lines, urging both sides to "go home, go to their families, stop the killing" and claim victory.
Trump reiterated this stance in a Truth Social post, stating, "They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!" Zelenskyy described the meeting as "productive" and "long," emphasizing that both leaders agreed not to make statements about long-range strikes into Russia to avoid escalation, as the United States does not want further tension.
Trump had declined to commit to supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, citing the need to maintain U.S. stockpiles and a desire to end the war. He stated, "We’d much rather have the war be over to be honest," and expressed hesitation about tapping into U.S. supplies.
Zelensky, while acknowledging the need for a ceasefire and negotiations, did not directly confirm or deny Trump's suggestion that Ukraine should accept current battle lines. He emphasized that Ukraine needs strong security guarantees for an enduring peace and reiterated his readiness to meet Putin, despite Moscow's refusal.
The Ukrainian president had proposed a potential swap: Ukraine would provide the U.S. with thousands of its advanced drones in exchange for Tomahawk missiles. However, the U.S. remains hesitant to approve the missile transfer.
Trump's position appears to have shifted from earlier statements in which he expressed confidence that Ukraine could regain all lost territory, a change attributed to a prior phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and plans for a future meeting with him in Budapest.
This was the third face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelensky since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025.
Trump’s diplomatic efforts have included a phone call with Putin on Thursday, which he said yielded progress on Moscow’s willingness to negotiate. He also cited a recent Middle East ceasefire as a model for ending the war in Ukraine.
European leaders, including the UK and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment" to Ukraine in a virtual call following the meeting, agreeing to continue discussions on support for a potential ceasefire. The White House described the meeting as "very interesting and cordial," though sources described it as tense and at times "uncomfortable."
Trump Says Maduro Doesn't 'Want To Fuck Around With The US,' As U.S. Military Seizes Smuggling Boat Survivors After Caribbean Drone Strike Off Venezuelan Coast
During the press portion of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump sharply responded to a reporter while discussing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, stating, "He doesn’t want to fuck around with the U.S." This outburst marked a rare public display of frustration and signaled a potential escalation in U.S. military operations against drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea.
The U.S. confirmed deadly strike on a drug-carrying semi-submersible drug submarine, killed two people and left two survivors in U.S. Navy custody.
"We attacked a submarine, and that was a drug-carrying submarine built specifically for the transportation of massive amounts of drugs," Trump said Friday while hosting the Zelensky at the White House. Secretary of State Rubio said details would be forthcoming.
Thursday’s incident marks the first known case of reported survivors since U.S. forces began their campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug boats.
The U.S. has conducted six strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking off Venezuela’s coast, with the latest targeting a submarine reportedly carrying drugs. The Trump administration claims these operations have killed at least 27 people, though survivors have been reported.
The Trump administration has declared an "armed conflict" with Venezuelan drug cartels, invoking wartime powers to justify lethal operations. On Friday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new counter-narcotics Joint Task Force within U.S. Southern Command.
The task force aims to "crush the cartels, stop the poison and keep America safe," Hegseth wrote last week on X, formerly Twitter. "The message is clear: If you traffic drugs toward our shores, we will stop you cold."
On Tuesday, Trump highlighted a separate strike that killed six suspected smugglers aboard a vessel off the coast of Venezuela.
"Venezuela is a big purveyor of drugs," Trump told reporters later that day in the Oval Office, accusing the country of sending its "criminals" into the United States.
The U.S. has deployed a significant military presence to the region, including eight warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, fighter jets, and approximately 10,000 personnel in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico.
