Trump urges Putin to end war and sign peace agreement

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to demonstrate a commitment to peace and end hostilities in Ukraine.

"I want him to stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal," Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One. "I believe we have conditions for an agreement, and I want him to sign it, end this, and just get back to normal life."

Trump expressed disappointment in Putin following recent missile strikes on Kyiv and said he was uncertain whether the Russian leader was serious about ending the war. "Let’s see what happens in the next few days. We’ll probably learn a lot," he added.

Commenting on his 15-minute meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican, Trump described it as "a wonderful meeting," noting Zelenskyy’s determination to do everything possible for his country. Trump said Zelenskyy reiterated his request for more weapons, as he had from the beginning of the conflict.

Trump added that Zelenskyy appeared "calmer" and more interested in achieving a peace agreement. He also noted that their personal relationship had never been bad, characterizing previous tensions as "a small obstacle."

Additionally, Trump suggested that Zelenskyy may be willing to give up claims to Crimea: "I think that's the case," he said, recalling that the peninsula was "handed over" to Russia during Barack Obama's administration without a single shot being fired.

Trump previously criticized Russia's recent missile strikes on civilian areas, suggesting it cast doubt on Putin’s willingness to pursue peace.

The Trump-Zelenskyy meeting took place on April 26 in Rome on the sidelines of the funeral ceremonies for Pope Francis. The White House described the talks as "very productive."