Trump urges end to Ukraine conflict and pushes for ceasefire

US President Donald Trump called on Friday for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to end the war in Ukraine as he advocates for a 30-day ceasefire.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office ahead of his Monday departure for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Trump responded to a question about his message to Putin following a US embassy warning about potential air attacks on Kyiv.

“I have a message for both parties: Get this war ended. Get this stupid war finished. That’s my message for both of them,” Trump stated.

The US embassy in Kyiv had posted on its website that it received information about a possible air attack that could occur within the next several days, advising US citizens to “be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.”

The White House reported that Trump held a “very good and productive” telephone conversation with Zelensky on Thursday, and expressed hope that both Ukraine and Russia would agree to the proposed 30-day ceasefire next week.

During Friday’s press briefing, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt reiterated that Trump would not meet with Putin during his forthcoming Middle East trip.

In Kyiv, Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, disclosed that he spoke by telephone on Friday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials regarding the proposed ceasefire and potential peace settlement.

“The main focus was the question of the ceasefire and prospects for a peace settlement,” Yermak wrote on Telegram, adding that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg participated in the call alongside Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.

“Also discussed was the importance of implementing the points on which our presidents agreed,” Yermak added.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​