He wants an end to the ridiculous war.
President Donald Trump has called on Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine, warning of severe economic repercussions if the conflict continues. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump expressed his desire to avoid harming Russia, stating that he had always maintained positive relations with the Russian people and President Vladimir Putin. However, he insisted that Russia must settle the war quickly or face high tariffs, sanctions, and taxes on its exports to the U.S. and other countries involved.
Trump emphasized that the ongoing war would only worsen and that he wanted to bring it to an end, claiming that the conflict would not have started under his leadership. He suggested that Russia had two options: resolving the situation peacefully or facing a more difficult path. Trump reiterated his stance from last month, when he called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, highlighting the substantial losses suffered by both sides in the nearly three-year-long conflict.
In his earlier statement, Trump pointed out that Ukraine had suffered significant casualties, including the loss of 400,000 soldiers and many civilians. He also noted that the war could escalate into something far more dangerous if not resolved soon. Trump encouraged direct talks between the two nations to prevent further destruction, emphasizing the human cost of the war.
The conflict began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, citing the protection of pro-Russian communities in Eastern Ukraine as the justification. Initially, many believed the invasion would quickly overpower Ukraine; however, Ukrainian forces put up strong resistance, leading to a prolonged and challenging conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed hope that a potential return of Trump to the presidency might lead to a quicker resolution of the war. Despite differences on some issues, Zelensky has indicated that he believes Putin might be more willing to negotiate with Trump, seeing him as a leader who could break his political isolation. Trump met with Zelensky in Paris in December 2024, where they discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine, with Zelensky calling the conversation productive.
