Trump shifts weight behind Putin after tense meeting with Zelenskyy
US President Donald Trump welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in Washington DC, October 17, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
US President Donald Trump has signaled a shift in support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is seeking a quick end to the war in Ukraine, possibly striking fear into Ukrainian officials.
While Trump held a tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, the potential supply of US long-range cruise missiles Tomahawks was on the agenda.
Not only did Zelenskyy leave the meeting empty-handed, he left the meeting scolded by Trump, who said Ukraine had agreed to Russia’s terms to end the war by surrendering the entire eastern territory of Donbas, the epicenter of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters this weekend, Trump said Donbas should be “cut off as is.”
“It’s been cut off right now, I think 78% of the land has already been taken over by Russia,” he said on Air Force One on Sunday. “They should stand on the battle lines immediately… Go home, stop killing people and let this be over.”
Trump also warned the Ukrainian leader during his call with Zelenskyy that Putin told him that Putin would “destroy” Ukraine if he did not agree to the demand during a long phone call in which they agreed to meet face-to-face in Hungary on Thursday.
Meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy turned into “shouting” Financial Times reportedTrump is “constantly swearing,” according to unnamed people familiar with the matter cited by the FT.
One Real Social postTrump called the meeting “very interesting and cordial” but said he “strongly suggested” to both leaders that it was time to end the war.
“Let both claim Victory, let History decide!” He said in his post on Friday.
Zelenskyy put on a brave face as he delivered NBC News’ “Meet the Press” speech. An interview recorded Friday following the meeting with Trump“We are not losing this war and Putin is not winning.” He also remained optimistic despite leaving the White House without the Tomahawk missiles he coveted.
“It’s good that President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but he didn’t say ‘yes’ for today,” Zelenskyy told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker in the interview aired Sunday.
He also said he was ready to participate. Putin and Trump summit in Budapestwhich could happen in the next few weeks. However, it is not yet known whether Zelenskyy will be invited to Hungary.
In addition to refusing to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, which he had previously put forward as an open offer to bring Russia to the negotiating table, Trump also considered providing security guarantees to both Kiev and Moscow, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the talks.
CNBC has contacted the White House for further comment and is awaiting a response.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) in the White House Cabinet Room in Washington, DC, on October 17, 2025.
Tom Brenner | Afp | Getty Images
Is Trump ready to put pressure on Putin?
Close followers of Trump-Putin-Zelenskyy relations fear that the US president will be easily influenced by the experienced Russian leader’s arguments on Ukraine. They say Trump does not appear ready or willing to put more pressure on Putin, whether in the form of more arms transfers to Kiev or more economic restrictions on Russia.
“We continue to dismiss Donald Trump as some kind of ‘Everybody’s Fool’ because he’s so exaggerated and says a lot of things a minute, but he’s actually being very transactional about the relationship,” Nina Khrushcheva, professor of international relations at The New School, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Friday.
“Everyone is pulling him to one side, whether it’s the Russian side or the Ukrainian side. But he doesn’t take sides and, interestingly, he plays with both hands.”
He noted that Trump still wants to win over Putin but also keeps him “tightly” under control, as evidenced by his threat to give Ukraine more weapons.
“I think it’s working so far. It’s not giving either side what they want, but it’s moving on, and eventually they could potentially agree to some kind of peace agreement,” he said.
Michael O’Hanlon, director of foreign policy research at the Brookings Institution, told CNBC that Putin will probably wait for Trump.
“I think it will be more effective [for Trump] “We are considering combining the military threat with greater economic pressure, but we will see that happen later,” he said.
O’Hanlon said there are various ways the United States can increase pressure on Moscow; these include another US aid package to Ukraine and a greater crackdown on Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers that facilitate the shipment of Russian oil to get around the oil price cap and sanctions.
“We don’t do a lot of trade with Russia, but of course other countries do as well, and I think it’s time to talk about a strategy where they will consider reducing their interaction, their economic interaction, not only with India but also with China, where you can threaten them with secondary sanctions if you don’t get that kind of assistance,” he said.
“So these are different pieces. It doesn’t have to happen all at once, and it can happen. They can be phased in, but I think President Trump is a little too focused on just the Tomahawks and also his personal relationship with Putin, and I don’t think that’s going to be enough.” [to stop Russia]”
