US President Donald Trump has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine, describing the conflict as “ridiculous” and asserting that both sides are ready for a resolution.
Speaking on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, warned Putin that failure to reach a ceasefire could result in severe tariffs, taxes, and sanctions on Russian goods sold to the US and allied countries.
In the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump reiterated his stance, stating, “I think he (Putin) should make a deal.” When asked if sanctions would push Russia to negotiate, he responded, “I don’t know.” He emphasized the devastating human cost of the war, describing the battlefield as unparalleled since World War II. “Soldiers are being killed daily at numbers we haven’t seen in decades. It’s time to end this ridiculous war,” Trump said.
The president also expressed his willingness to meet with Putin, saying, “From what I hear, Putin would like to see me. And we’ll meet as soon as we can. I’d meet immediately.”
Trump further noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also prepared to negotiate. “He’s ready to make a deal. He’d like to stop. Ukraine has lost a lot of soldiers. So has Russia, which lost 800,000 soldiers,” he added.
In his social media post, Trump acknowledged his historically good relationship with Putin but stressed the urgency of settling the conflict. “It’s time to settle this ridiculous war!” he declared, warning of economic consequences if peace talks fail.
The comments come amidst escalating global pressure on Russia and Ukraine to end the prolonged conflict, which has caused widespread devastation and loss of life.
