Trump Claims Putin Wants to End War, Dismisses NATO Threat Concerns

President Donald Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to end the ongoing war in Ukraine and rejected warnings that Russia might expand its aggression beyond Ukraine’s borders.

“I think he wants to stop fighting. I see that,” Trump told reporters on Sunday. “We spoke long and hard. [Middle East envoy] Steve Witkoff was with him for a very extended period, like about three hours. I think he wants to stop fighting.”

Trump acknowledged Russia’s military strength, referencing historical victories. “They have a big, powerful machine. You understand that,” he said. “And they defeated Hitler and they defeated Napoleon. You know, they’ve been fighting a long time. They’ve done it before … but I think he would like to stop fighting.”

The remarks come amid the Trump administration’s efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, which started nearly three years ago when Putin launched a large-scale invasion of the country.

When asked if Putin intends to seize all of Ukraine, Trump said he had directly asked the Russian leader about his ambitions.

“I think he wants to stop. That was my question to him,” Trump said. “Because if he’s going to go on, that would have been a big problem for us, and that would have caused me a big problem, because you just can’t let that happen.”

Trump insisted that both sides want an end to the war. “I think he wants to end it. And they want to end it fast. Both of them,” he said, referring to both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “Zelensky wants to end it too.”

However, Zelensky expressed skepticism over Trump’s assessment. In an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Zelensky said he had advised Trump not to trust Putin’s declarations of peace.

“I told him that Putin is a liar,” Zelensky said in the interview. “And he’s a little bit scared of Trump.”

Zelensky suggested that Trump could influence Putin to negotiate a peace settlement but warned against believing Russia’s intentions at face value. “I think the president has this chance, and he’s strong,” Zelensky said.

“And I think that really he can push Putin to peace negotiations. Yes, I think so. I think he can, but don’t trust him. Don’t trust Putin. Don’t trust just words about ceasefire.”

The Ukrainian leader also warned about potential Russian military actions beyond Ukraine. He claimed that intelligence reports indicated Moscow was preparing to move troops into Belarus for future operations.

“We believe that Putin will wage war against NATO,” Zelensky said. “We have intelligence, we have documents that they are preparing trained missions of a big number of soldiers on the territory of Belarus.”

Zelensky said he feared that Poland and Lithuania could be the next targets of Russian aggression.

When asked about Zelensky’s concerns regarding Russia potentially attacking NATO countries, Trump dismissed the warning outright.

“No, I don’t agree. I don’t agree. Not even a little bit,” Trump said.

The war in Ukraine has continued for nearly three years, with no clear resolution in sight. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations and diplomatic efforts, both sides remain locked in a bloody conflict with significant losses.

Western nations, including the U.S., have provided military and financial aid to Ukraine, while Russia has maintained its offensive operations despite economic sanctions.

Zelensky has repeatedly called on Western allies to continue supporting Ukraine’s military efforts. He has also warned of broader consequences should Ukraine fall to Russian forces, arguing that Moscow’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Trump, however, has previously expressed a different approach to the conflict. He has criticized the extent of U.S. support for Ukraine and suggested that, under his leadership, he could negotiate a swift end to the war.

His latest remarks indicate a belief that Putin is ready to conclude the conflict, a position that runs counter to assessments from U.S. intelligence officials and military analysts.

As the U.S. presidential election approaches, Trump’s stance on Russia and Ukraine remains a key point of debate. His comments about Putin’s intentions and his rejection of Zelensky’s warnings will likely fuel further discussion over the future of U.S. involvement in the war.

While Trump insists that Putin seeks peace, Ukraine’s leadership and many Western officials continue to view Russia’s actions as a long-term threat to regional stability.

Whether Trump’s assessment proves correct remains uncertain, as the war in Ukraine shows no immediate signs of resolution.