Following a lengthy White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump called on both Russia and Ukraine to halt the war immediately and freeze the conflict along current front lines.

Expressing growing frustration over the ongoing war, Trump posted on Truth Social:

“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 to reporters later in Florida, Trump doubled down on his stance, suggesting that current battle lines should serve as the basis for ending the war, even if it means allowing Russia to keep occupied territory.

“Stop at the battle line and both sides should go home… stop the killing, and that should be it.”

Trump’s comments signal a shift from his recent tone, where he had shown more support for Ukraine's goal of reclaiming lost territory. After his September meeting with Zelenskyy in New York, Trump had said he believed Ukraine could recover all land taken by Russia since the February 2022 invasion.

In response to Trump’s latest remarks, Zelenskyy stopped short of fully endorsing the idea of freezing the conflict but did say:

“The president is right we have to stop where we are, and then to speak.”

The change in Trump’s tone appears to come after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Trump also announced plans to meet Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks, possibly in a dual summit that might include Zelenskyy as well.

During Friday’s White House meeting, Trump indicated reluctance to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which Kyiv sees as crucial for deterring Russia and pressuring Moscow into negotiations. Zelenskyy had offered to provide advanced Ukrainian drones in exchange, but Trump said he was wary of depleting U.S. military reserves.

“We’d much rather have the war be over, to be honest,” Trump said.

Zelenskyy later commented that while Trump didn’t approve the missiles, he didn’t rule them out either:

“It’s good that President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but for today, didn’t say ‘yes.’”

Ukraine argues that the Tomahawks — with a nearly 1,000-mile range — would allow it to strike vital Russian targets and possibly bring Putin to the negotiating table. However, after speaking with Putin, Trump began downplaying the missile deal, aligning with Putin’s warning that such a move could worsen U.S.-Russia relations.

So far, Russia has shown no signs of willingness to negotiate directly with Zelenskyy. Although Trump had promised during his campaign to end the war swiftly, his efforts have faced roadblocks, particularly following an August summit in Alaska with Putin and another round of talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders.

When asked whether Putin might be manipulating him, Trump responded confidently:

“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.”

As discussions about a potential summit in Hungary continue, Trump left open the possibility of a “double meeting” involving both leaders. Zelenskyy, however, stressed that Ukraine’s animosity toward Putin is not personal but a result of Russia’s ongoing aggression.

“They attacked us, so they are an enemy for us… it is not about someone just hating someone else. Although, undoubtedly, we hate the enemy.”