Moment that could reshape the future of the Ukraine war, Donald Trump floated the idea of harsher sanctions against Russia and raised doubts about Vladimir Putin’s commitment to ending the conflict. The former president’s comments came shortly after an unexpected face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome, just ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral.
“There was no reason for Putin to be firing missiles into civilian areas,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, expressing frustration over Russia’s latest attacks. The post, later shared by Vice President JD Vance on X, hinted that Putin might be stalling rather than seriously seeking peace. Trump suggested that the U.S. might need to consider new “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions” to apply fresh pressure, emphasizing, “Too many people are dying!!!”
This meeting marked the first time Trump and Zelenskyy had spoken in person since their Oval Office confrontation years ago, which had ended in a tense argument. Despite their history, both leaders described Saturday’s talks as positive. The White House called it a “very productive discussion,” while Zelenskyy described it as a “good” and “symbolic” moment that could become historic if their efforts succeed.
Trump’s renewed push comes as he ramps up pressure for Russia and Ukraine to finalize a peace agreement. Earlier in the week, he had put forward a controversial proposal that reportedly recognized Russia’s claim over Crimea — a major sticking point for Ukraine. In a rare move, Trump acknowledged that Russia had “stolen” Crimea, blaming former President Barack Obama for allowing it to happen without resistance.
Speaking to TIME magazine earlier this month, Trump had declared, “Crimea will stay with Russia,” a position he reiterated in his recent remarks. However, Zelenskyy continues to firmly reject any compromise over Crimea, insisting it remains part of Ukraine.
Despite these differences, Trump said on Friday that the two nations are “very close to a deal” and urged top officials from both sides to meet and “finish it off.”
