US President Donald Trump on Friday held a bilateral assembly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington DC, the place the 2 leaders mentioned ongoing efforts to finish the Russia-Ukraine battle. Trump, who not too long ago performed a pivotal function in brokering a Gaza ceasefire, mentioned he believed momentum was constructing for a peace settlement in Japanese Europe. Zelenskyy mentioned the Gaza ceasefire had given Trump the “momentum” to work in the direction of ending the battle with Russia.

Through the assembly, Trump described Zelenskyy as “a really robust chief” who had “endured loads,” emphasising that each international locations had confronted immense challenges over the previous years. “It’s an honour to be with a really robust chief, President Zelensky of Ukraine, who has endured loads. We’ve endured it with him,” Trump mentioned.

VIDEO | Washington DC: US President Donald Trump participates in a bilateral lunch with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Donald Trump (@POTUS) says, “…It is an honor to be with a really robust chief, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, who has endured loads. We have endured it… pic.twitter.com/pDhhVKyWxY

— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) October 17, 2025

The US President added that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin a day earlier and believed “nice progress” was being made. “I’ve had an enormous name with President Putin yesterday, and I believe we’re making nice progress. We wish to end this, finish it, and stop additional lack of life,” he mentioned.

VIDEO | Washington DC: Throughout bilateral lunch with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump responds to a media question about his yesterday’s telephone name with Vladimir Putin.

Donald Trump (@POTUS) says, “…I believe that President Putin desires to finish the battle,… pic.twitter.com/9fcQSNIvzU

— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) October 17, 2025

Trump additionally drew a comparability between the Russia-Ukraine battle and the latest peace efforts within the Center East, highlighting his administration’s capacity to attain consensus in complicated negotiations. “They (President Zelenskyy and President Putin) don’t like one another. I say that in entrance of President Zelenskyy, however I say it in entrance of President Putin, too. They’ve large unhealthy blood. It truly is holding up, I believe, a settlement. I believe we’re going to get it finished. And we’ve to make it long-lasting, as I mentioned within the Center East, eternal. The Center East is a way more difficult scenario. We had 59 international locations concerned, and each one among them agreed. Most individuals didn’t suppose that was doable,” Trump mentioned.

#WATCH | US President Trump participates in a bilateral lunch with President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President Trump says, “…They (President Zelenskyy and President Putin) do not like one another. I say that in entrance of President Zelenskyy, however I say it in entrance of… pic.twitter.com/YOdySO99az

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2025

Trump additionally highlighted his report in battle mediation, claiming to have “solved eight wars” and emphasising his give attention to saving lives over private recognition. “Go to Rwanda and the Congo, discuss India and Pakistan,” he mentioned, including that whereas others acquired the Nobel Prize, “I don’t care about all that stuff. I simply care about saving lives.” Calling the Russia-Ukraine effort his potential “quantity 9,” Trump mentioned he had “saved tens of hundreds of thousands of lives” and pledged to maintain pursuing peace “to cease folks from being killed.”

#WATCH | US President Trump says, “I solved eight wars. Go to Rwanda and the Congo, discuss India and Pakistan. Take a look at the entire wars that we solved, and each time I solved, after they say In the event you resolve the subsequent one, you are gonna get the Nobel Prize. I did not get a Nobel… pic.twitter.com/EWDq3EgApZ

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2025

Zelenskyy, in the meantime, famous that whereas peace stays elusive, Trump’s latest diplomatic success in Gaza might function a catalyst. “With the Gaza ceasefire, President Trump now has momentum to cease the Russia-Ukraine battle,” he remarked. He additionally recommended Ukraine was open to exploring deeper defence and vitality cooperation with the US, saying he was “fascinated by buying and selling Ukrainian navy drones for Tomahawk missiles” and needed to “curiosity President Trump in an vitality deal.”

Zelenskyy added that regardless of ongoing talks, he believed “President Putin will not be prepared for peace” at this stage.