WASHINGTON — On Sunday, Donald Trump called for an immediate cease-fire in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, reiterating his openness to the idea of the United States potentially withdrawing from NATO as the president-elect.
His cease-fire call followed a weekend meeting in Paris with leaders from France and Ukraine. In a social media post, Trump claimed that Ukraine is eager to negotiate a resolution to the war, which has now lasted over 1,000 days. The Kremlin expressed its willingness to engage in talks, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that any agreement must ensure long-lasting peace.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump noted the significant loss of life on both sides, stating that the conflict “should never have started.”
“An immediate cease-fire is necessary, and negotiations must commence. Too many lives are being lost senselessly, and countless families are suffering,” Trump urged, calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to take action to end the hostilities.
Trump’s comments followed a meeting on Saturday with Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron, which Zelenskyy described as “constructive.”
On Sunday, Zelenskyy took to the Telegram messaging app to stress the importance of achieving a “just and robust peace” that would not be undermined by Russia in the years to come.
“When discussing effective peace with Russia, we must first consider effective peace guarantees. Ukrainians desire peace more than anyone else; the war was brought to our territory by Russia,” Zelenskyy pointed out.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s long-standing position of being open to discussions with Ukraine, referencing a decree from Zelenskyy in October 2022 that declared any talks impossible while Putin remains in power.
This decree was issued after Putin announced the annexation of four occupied regions of Ukraine, a move that Kyiv and Western nations viewed as a blatant infringement on Ukraine’s sovereignty, despite Russia not fully controlling those territories.
Throughout the conflict, Ukraine has maintained that a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from recognized Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, is a prerequisite for any peace negotiations.
In a separate update on social media, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine has suffered 43,000 military casualties since the full-scale invasion by Russia began on February 24, 2022, with 370,000 reported injuries.
Both sides have been hesitant to release official casualty figures. Western officials have indicated that recent months of intense positional warfare in eastern Ukraine have led to unprecedented losses for both Russia and Ukraine, with tens of thousands killed or injured each month.
Previously, Trump has expressed a desire for a swift cease-fire in Ukraine. His more urgent proposal on Sunday elicited immediate responses from both Ukraine and Russia, indicating the seriousness with which they regard the incoming American president’s stance.
The Biden administration and other supporters of Ukraine have been careful not to pressure Ukraine into accepting a quick cease-fire, as allies fear that such a move could lead to concessions that favor Russia, allowing it to regroup and potentially renew military actions in the future.
In a separate NBC News interview aired Sunday, Trump reiterated his warning to NATO allies that he does not consider ongoing U.S. participation in the military alliance a given during his potential second term.
He has consistently criticized European and Canadian governments for relying on U.S. military spending as the dominant power in NATO. NATO officials state that many member countries are now meeting voluntary military spending targets, partly due to pressure from Trump during his first term.
When asked in the interview if he would consider withdrawing from NATO, Trump suggested that the possibility remains open.
“If they’re paying their fair share and treating us justly, I would absolutely stay with NATO,” he stated during “Meet the Press.”
However, he added that if those conditions are not met, he would consider withdrawing the U.S. from the alliance, replying, “Absolutely. Yes, absolutely.”
