WSJ: Trump pressure fails to bring Russia and Ukraine closer to ceasefire

US President Donald Trump’s efforts to push Russia and Ukraine toward a ceasefire have so far failed to produce any progress.

Despite Trump’s desire to end the conflict swiftly, both Moscow and Kyiv have made it clear that they remain far from reaching a peace deal, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Several officials familiar with the talks said Trump was blunt with Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their meeting, expressing frustration and, at one point, refusing to look at battlefield maps presented by the Ukrainian delegation.

Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy that his top priority was ending the war and made it clear he was not attached to any particular territorial outcome. Moreover, two US officials told the paper that Trump cautioned Zelenskyy not to expect rapid delivery of Tomahawk missiles.

Later, Trump acknowledged that bridging the gap between Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin was proving far more difficult than he had anticipated.

“It’s turned out to be nasty because you have two leaders who truly hate each other. It makes it actually a little bit difficult,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

According to WSJ sources, during the meeting, Trump said that the return of Donbas to Ukraine was not a priority, noting that Russia already controls most of the region. He emphasised that his goal was to reach a quick settlement, regardless of the area’s status.

For context, during a two-hour meeting at the White House on October 17, 2025, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explored possibilities for an expedited cease-fire in the war with Russia, with Trump apparently shifting away from prior US policy supporting full Ukrainian territorial recovery. 

Trump declined Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles, citing risks of escalation and his recent phone call with Vladimir Putin. 

Meanwhile, the Kremlin swiftly rejected the concept of frozen front-lines, with Moscow insisting any settlement must involve Ukraine ceding the entire Donbas region — a direct rebuke of Trump’s approach.

By Jeyhun Aghazada