Trump denounces “huge disagreement” between Zelensky and Putin which delays the peace agreement

President Donald Trump said Friday that “tremendous tensions” between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin are delaying a peace deal in Ukraine, despite the administration’s recent victory that eased tensions in Gaza.

“They have enormous composure. That’s really what’s delaying, I think, a settlement. I think we’re going to get there, and we have to make it lasting, as I said in the Middle East, everlasting,” Trump said Friday while hosting Zelensky at the White House.

“The situation in the Middle East is much more complicated. You know, we had 59 countries involved, and every single one of them agreed. And it’s, you know, it’s pretty amazing. Most people didn’t think it was doable. I really believe it’s going to be something that’s going to get done. I had a very good conversation yesterday with President Putin. I think he wants to make it happen,” Trump added.

Zelenskyy, sitting alongside Trump, said: “President Trump now has a great chance to end this war.”

Trump, Putin plan meeting in Hungary over Ukraine war

President Donald Trump, left, greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, Friday, October 17, 2025, in Washington, DC (Alex Brandon/AP)

“President Trump really showed the world that he can achieve a ceasefire in the Middle East. And that’s why I hope he will do it. And we will also have great success. For Ukraine, this is a great chance, and I hope President Trump can achieve it,” Zelenskyy said.

Trump also said at one point during the meeting: “We need Tomahawks, and we need a lot of other things that we’ve sent over the last four years to Ukraine.” »

The meeting between Trump and Zelensky, announced earlier this week, came a day after Trump had a phone call with Putin.

Zelensky has made clear that his main goal is to ensure better defenses for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s constant aerial bombardment of civilian targets such as cities, energy infrastructure and hospitals, and his most expensive product is the US Tomahawk missile.

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argue verbally in the Oval Office on February 28, 2025. This was Zelenskyy’s first visit to the White House this year. (Getty Images)

With the ability to strike beyond even Moscow, this sophisticated, long-range, high-precision cruise missile could increase Ukraine’s ability to strike further into Russia and better target not only its military complex, but also its oil industry, which has largely financed Putin’s war chest.

Following his call with Putin on Thursday, Trump said “great progress” had been made, but he provided no details on how the progress was made. The two men agreed to meet again in person, the next time in Hungary.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, speaks with President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet during a lunch meeting at the White House October 17, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Trump said he discussed U.S.-Russia trade with Putin, but did not say whether U.S. aid to Ukraine was a topic of their conversation. That last question appears to be the impetus for that call earlier this week, when Trump told reporters he “maybe need to talk” with Putin about whether he wants U.S. Tomahawks near his borders, which seemed like an implicit threat.

COULD TRUMP’S GAZA CEASEFIRE PLAN OFFER A PLAN FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE?

But neither the Tomahawks nor the defensive help were mentioned in the president’s account of the negotiations.

According to Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov, the issue was discussed and fought by Putin.

“Vladimir Putin reiterated his thesis that the Tomahawks will not change the situation on the battlefield, but will cause significant damage to relations between our countries. Not to mention the prospects for a peaceful settlement,” he told reporters after the call, according to Reuters.

Zelenskyy wrote in an article on X on Thursday that “nothing has changed for Russia – it is still terrorizing life in Ukraine.”

“Therefore, every air defense system for Ukraine is important: it saves lives. Every decision that can strengthen us brings the end of the war closer,” he added.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Zelensky’s visit to the White House on Friday was his third this year. During his first visit in February, Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Zelensky clashed during their meeting.