Washington, October 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump has warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that delaying a peace agreement with Russia could leave Ukraine in a weaker position, arguing that Moscow was steadily gaining territory and Kyiv might no longer be able to secure the terms available earlier in the conflict.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office alongside Vice President JD Vance, Trump cited Russia’s military advantage and mounting casualties in arguing that a negotiated settlement had become increasingly urgent.
“Russia’s a big machine. They just keep grinding forward, and that’s what they’ve done,” Trump said.
He claimed Russian forces were continuing to capture Ukrainian territory, adding that the land under Russian control was growing “week by week.” His description of battlefield developments was not accompanied by independently verified territorial data.
Trump also argued that Russia’s larger population gave it an advantage in sustaining a prolonged conflict. He said both countries had suffered enormous casualties but maintained that Ukraine faced greater demographic constraints.
“Ukraine has to want to settle this war. Zelensky has to want to settle this war. And if he doesn’t, I think it’s going to be a very bad thing,” Trump said.
Referring to an earlier confrontation involving Zelensky and Vance in the Oval Office, Trump argued that the Ukrainian leader had missed an opportunity to secure more favourable terms.
“Could have made a good deal then. Could have made a much better deal then probably, possibly, that he can make now,” he said.
Trump criticised the scale of American financial and military assistance to Ukraine, claiming Washington had spent hundreds of billions of dollars while receiving little in return. He also said European governments were becoming tired of the financial burden of supporting Kyiv.
The President estimated that Russia and Ukraine had together lost 32,000 people during the previous month, describing most of the casualties as soldiers. The figure was presented as his assessment and was not independently verified.
Trump said the continuing loss of life was a major reason for his push to end the war. He attributed the difficulty of reaching an agreement partly to the intense hostility between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.
“The hatred between President Putin and President Zelensky is tremendous. I think that’s most of the reason they haven’t been able to make a deal, actually,” he said.
Asked whether the two leaders would need to meet in person to finalise an agreement, Trump said that was not essential. “They don’t have to be in the same room; I guess I can do it another way,” he said, without explaining what alternative diplomatic arrangement he had in mind.
Trump’s remarks came as his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, prepared to travel to Russia following diplomatic discussions in Oslo aimed at advancing efforts to end the war.
In a separate development, Trump disclosed that he had discussed the release of American prisoner Stephen Hubbard directly with Putin.
“I’ve been talking to President Putin about Mr. Hubbard,” Trump said, adding that he had asked the Russian leader to release him.
Trump did not confirm whether a prisoner-release agreement was imminent but suggested there could be developments within days.
“I’d love to get him back. It’s time to have Mr. Hubbard back,” he said. No agreement or timetable for Hubbard’s release was announced.
FOLLOW NOW
