Trump, Zelenskyy call for immediate ceasefire
Donald Trump outside the White House, Oct. 17 (Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)
Shortly after their meeting at the White House on Oct. 17, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a ceasefire in the Russo–Ukrainian war without any territorial preconditions.
Trump made his statement in a post on Truth Social while en route to Mar-a-Lago, within an hour of Zelenskyy leaving the White House.
“The meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was very interesting, and cordial, but I told him, as I likewise strongly suggested to President Putin, that it is time to stop the killing, and make a DEAL,” Trump wrote.
“Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They [Ukraine and Russia] should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!”
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Zelenskyy said territorial questions remain the “most sensitive” issue to be settled at peace talks, insisting that such negotiations must take place after a ceasefire.
“We must stop where we are now [on the battlefield], President Trump is correct on this,” said Zelenskyy.
“And then we can start discussing steps towards a long-term peace.”
The Ukrainian president added that robust security guarantees against future Russian invasions remain the top priority for Kyiv.
“We need strong security guarantees,” Zelenskyy told BBC’s Tom Bateman.
“Our nation is afraid that if we will have [cease]fire, we need security guarantees from the United States [so] Putin will not come again with aggression.”
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
