US President discusses Ukraine conflict, territorial disputes, and future peace efforts in Oval Office briefing
US President Donald Trump described his long-awaited phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “great” during a press briefing in the Oval Office on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Trump signaling the possibility of an in-person meeting in Saudi Arabia to further peace efforts.
Trump, who also spoke with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, expressed optimism about the potential for progress. “The first time we’ll meet in Saudi Arabia, see if we can get something done… We know the Crown Prince [Mohammed bin Salman], and I think it’d be a very good place to meet,” Trump told reporters. While no exact date has been set, the US president suggested the summit could happen in the “not too distant future.”
The discussions also touched on the possibility of reciprocal visits, with Trump stating, “In fact, we expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there.” However, Trump indicated that Zelensky would “probably” not be present at the Saudi Arabia meeting and noted that he “[hasn’t] committed to go to Ukraine.”
On the contentious issue of Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO, Trump echoed his defense secretary’s earlier remarks, stating that it is not “practical” for Ukraine to join the US-led military alliance. He acknowledged that Ukraine’s NATO membership has long been a red line for Russia, saying, “They’ve been saying that for a long time, that Ukraine cannot go into NATO. And I’m okay with that.”
Trump also addressed the territorial disputes between Ukraine and Russia, suggesting that Ukraine is unlikely to regain all the territory it has lost over the past decade. “It certainly would seem to be unlikely. They took a lot of land, and they fought for that land, and they lost a lot of soldiers,” he said. However, he hinted that some areas currently controlled by Russia could eventually return to Ukraine, adding, “some of it will come back.”
The territorial tensions date back to 2014, when Crimea voted overwhelmingly to join Russia following a Western-backed coup in Kiev. In 2022, the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye also voted to become part of Russia. Moscow currently controls parts of Ukraine’s Kharkov Region, while Ukraine maintains a foothold in Russia’s Kursk Region.
Trump pushed back against claims that he is sidelining Zelensky from the peace process but hinted that the Ukrainian leader, whose presidential term expired in May 2024, must eventually hold an election. “One thing he was very strong about—he wants, if it [war] ends, he wants it to end,” Trump said, referencing Zelensky’s desire for security guarantees.
Despite the complexities, Trump expressed hope for a peaceful resolution, stating, “I think President Putin wants peace and President Zelensky wants peace, and I want peace. I just want to see people stop getting killed.”
As the world watches closely, the potential summit in Saudi Arabia could mark a significant step toward ending the conflict. For now, Trump’s remarks underscore his commitment to brokering a deal, even as questions remain about the path forward and the roles of all parties involved.
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