During a tense closed-door meeting at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Russian President Vladimir Putin’s terms to end the ongoing conflict. Sources suggest Trump advised Zelenskyy that refusal would lead to Ukraine’s ‘destruction’ by Putin. The discussion allegedly escalated into an argument, with reports of Trump becoming frustrated and even tossing battlefield maps presented by Zelenskyy. The encounter was described as a ‘shouting match’ where Trump expressed weariness with the situation, stating Putin would ‘destroy’ Ukraine if he desired. Putin has consistently demanded Ukraine cede the Donbas region as a condition for peace. This meeting occurred as Trump has actively sought to mediate an end to the protracted war in Eastern Europe. He previously met with Putin in Alaska and was scheduled for further discussions in Hungary. Trump’s public statements after the meeting emphasized a need to cease hostilities at the current battle lines and for both sides to return home, highlighting that ‘enough blood’ had been shed.
