According to the Financial Times, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept Russia’s terms to end the war, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin would “destroy” Ukraine if the conflict continued.
Sources told the Financial Times that there were tense moments during the White House meeting on Friday between Trump and Zelensky.
Trump reportedly removed maps of the front lines in Ukraine and insisted that Zelensky hand over the entire Donbas region to Putin, repeatedly referencing statements Putin had made during a phone call on Thursday.
Although Ukraine eventually managed to redirect Trump toward maintaining the current front lines, the Friday meeting was described as tense, reminiscent of their first encounter in February.
Zelensky and his team had visited the White House to persuade Trump to sell Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, but the U.S. president refused the request. European officials were informed of the meeting. According to one European official, Trump told Zelensky that Putin claimed the conflict was a “special operation, not a war at all,” and insisted that the Ukrainian leader either make a deal or face destruction. Trump allegedly told Zelensky that he was losing the war.
“If Putin wants, he will destroy you,” Trump warned.
In an interview conducted Thursday and released Sunday, Trump told Fox News that Ukraine should agree to cede territory.
