President Donald Trump called for Ukraine and Russia to immediately stop fighting along current battle lines following a two-hour White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on October 17, 2025. Trump suggested both sides claim victory without further territorial changes, marking a shift from his recent support for Ukraine retaking lost land. Discussions also touched on potential U.S. Tomahawk missile sales to Ukraine, though Trump expressed hesitation.
The meeting in the White House Cabinet Room, attended by Vice President JD Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, was the fifth face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since Trump returned to office in January 2025. Trump, who has voiced frustration with the ongoing conflict, posted on Truth Social shortly after: "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!"
Later, while heading to Florida, Trump told reporters: "You go by the battle line wherever it is—otherwise it's too complicated. You stop at the battle line and both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing, and that should be it." This stance contrasts with Trump's comments last month after a UN General Assembly sidelines meeting, where he said Ukraine could win back all territory lost since Russia's February 2022 invasion.
Zelenskyy, responding to Trump's post, agreed on the need for a ceasefire: "The president is right we have to stop where we are, and then to speak." He emphasized Russia's status as an enemy due to the invasion, stating: "They attacked us, so they are an enemy for us. They don't intend to stop."
Talks also addressed military aid. Zelenskyy proposed exchanging Ukrainian advanced drones for U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of about 995 miles and could target deep into Russian territory, including airbases and energy infrastructure. Trump, however, hesitated, citing U.S. stockpile needs: "I have an obligation also to make sure that we're completely stocked up as a country, because you never know what's going to happen in war and peace. We'd much rather have them not need Tomahawks."
Zelenskyy told NBC's "Meet the Press": "It's good that President Trump didn't say 'no,' but for today, didn't say 'yes.' We need Tomahawks because it's very difficult just to operate only with Ukrainian drones."
The discussion followed Trump's Thursday phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after which Trump announced plans for a meeting with Putin in Budapest, Hungary, in coming weeks. Trump noted involvement of Zelenskyy was "to be determined," suggesting a "double meeting" to ease tensions, as the leaders "do not like each other." Putin warned that Tomahawk supplies would damage U.S.-Russia relations but wouldn't alter the battlefield, per his adviser Yuri Ushakov.
Trump expressed confidence in handling Putin: "I've been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well. I think I'm pretty good at this stuff." Despite earlier openness to Tomahawks, Trump's post-call rhetoric downplayed their provision, amid Russia's intensified attacks and Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian energy sites.