US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, urging him to agree to Russia’s terms to end the war, according to the Financial Times. Sources told the publication that the discussion often escalated into a “shouting match,” with Trump reportedly “cursing all the time.”

During the meeting, Trump dismissed maps showing front-line positions and pressed Zelenskyy to surrender the entire Donbas region to Russia, echoing arguments President Putin had raised during a phone call the day before. European officials cited by FT said Trump told Zelenskyy he was “losing the war” and needed to “cut a deal or face destruction.”

Mirroring Putin’s Talking Points

Observers noted that Trump repeatedly parroted Putin’s language, even when it contradicted his earlier claims about Russia’s military weaknesses. In previous months, he had promoted the idea of “peace through strength” and suggested arming Ukraine with long-range weapons to deter Moscow.

The shift came after Trump’s Thursday call with Putin, during which both leaders agreed to meet in Budapest “within weeks” to discuss the conflict. Following the White House meeting, Trump told reporters, “Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by war and guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim victory, let history decide.”

Trump Signals Acceptance of Current Battle Lines

Trump later indicated he favours freezing the conflict along current front lines. On Truth Social, he reiterated, “Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!”

Speaking in Florida, he urged an immediate end to the war and suggested that Moscow could retain territories it has seized. Trump also expressed reluctance to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, despite previous indications of possible support, saying, “We’d much rather have the war be over, to be honest.”

Zelenskyy Calls on Allies Not to Appease Russia

After returning from Washington, Zelenskyy warned allies against conceding to Russian demands. His visit had aimed to secure Tomahawk missile supplies from the US, but he left without any agreement.

In a statement on social media, Zelenskyy wrote: “Ukraine will never grant terrorists any bounty for their crimes, and we count on our partners to uphold this very position.” He called for decisive action from European and American allies and urged another meeting of the European-led “coalition of the willing.”

Decline in Military Support

According to Germany’s Kiel Institute, foreign military aid to Ukraine fell by 43% in July and August compared to the first half of 2025. Analysts attributed the decline partly to a new NATO initiative, the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which pools European contributions for US-made weapons while excluding direct US financing.