President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House Aug. 18, 2025, where Trump said a ceasefire agreement is not necessary. (Getty Images)
Trump has notched other peace agreements in 2025, such as a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda in June, and the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace agreement inked earlier in August.
"I didn't do any ceasefires. Would I like … I like the concept," Trump said. "You know, I like the concept of a ceasefire for one reason, because you'd stop killing people immediately as opposed to in two weeks or one week or whatever it takes. But we can work a deal where we're working on a peace deal while they're fighting. They have to fight. I wish they could stop. I'd like them to stop, but strategically, that could be a disadvantage for one side or the other. But all of these deals I made without even the mention of the word ceasefire."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was spotted wearing a suit during his meeting with President Donald Trump, which is a departure from his typically informal attire. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump did previously tout ceasefires agreements as he worked to secure peace in other nations earlier in 2025, such as in May when he celebrated the end to India and Pakistan's conflict via a ceasefire.
"After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Trump posted to Truth Social Saturday that he intended to streamline the peace deal, and that a "mere ceasefire agreement" would not suffice.
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"It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere ceasefire agreement, which often times do not hold up," Trump wrote in a Saturday Truth Social post.
On Monday, Zelensky is also set to join a cohort of European heads of state who are also visiting the White House, including: French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-hits-back-ceasefire-not-necessary-peace-during-high-stakes-meeting-zelenskyy