Trump pushes for Ukraine war to end within month in call with Zelenskyy

U.S. President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he wants the war with Russia to end within a month, signaling an accelerated push for a peace agreement as diplomatic efforts intensify.

During a 30-minute phone call on February 25 — their first conversation since meeting in Davos in late January — Trump said the conflict has dragged on too long and expressed his desire to see a rapid resolution, sources told Axios.

"Zelenskyy then said he hopes the war will finish this year, and Trump replied that the war has been going on for far too long and said he would like the war to end in a month," one of the sources said.

The call came one day after the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and ahead of planned negotiations in Geneva involving senior U.S., Ukrainian and potentially Russian officials.

According to a Ukrainian official and two other sources familiar with the discussion, the conversation was described as friendly and positive. Zelenskyy thanked Trump for U.S. support and emphasised his belief in Trump’s role in securing a breakthrough.

“Zelenskyy thanked Trump for all his help and said only Trump can get Putin to stop the war,” a Ukrainian official and another source said.

Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are scheduled to meet with Zelenskyy’s negotiating team in Geneva on February 26. Both officials also participated in the February 25 call. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev may also be in Geneva for separate talks with the U.S. delegation, according to a source familiar with the plans.

Despite renewed diplomatic momentum, significant gaps remain between Kyiv and Moscow, particularly over territorial control in eastern Ukraine.

One of the key topics discussed during the call was the possibility of a trilateral summit involving Trump, Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy recently indicated that direct leader-level talks could help bridge remaining differences, especially on territorial issues.

By Sabina Mammadli