President Donald Trump said Tuesday he believes Russia and Ukraine will reach a peace deal — and he’s working to make it happen before winter.
Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where both leaders expressed optimism about ending the grinding conflict that’s stretched past four and a half years.
“The president and I are trying to figure out a solution, and I think it’s going to happen. I really do. I believe it’s going to happen,” Trump told reporters, noting he and Zelensky “have a very good relationship.”
“I THINK THEY’RE GOING TO MAKE A DEAL, AND I DON’T WANT TO SAY WHAT THE DEAL IS. WE TALK ABOUT IT A LOT, INCLUDING WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN, AND I THINK SOMETHING’S GOING TO HAPPEN.”
When asked if Ukraine could reclaim territory lost in the war, Trump emphasized deal-making over territorial guarantees.
“Well, I think they’re going to make a deal, and I don’t want to say what the deal is. We talk about it a lot, including with President Putin, and I think something’s going to happen,” Trump said.
He praised Ukraine’s fighting capability while gesturing toward Zelensky. “Certainly they are very good fighters. Really, they can be proud of themselves. Regardless, we’ll see what happens. But very, very capable people, very capable leadership.”
Zelensky told reporters he hopes Trump will help end the war quickly — before winter arrives and complicates the battlefield.
“I hope that we will end this war, and President Trump will help us to end this war. And I think that we needed to do as quick as possible before winter,” Zelensky said.
“Before winter,” Trump echoed. “Big thing before winter.”
Trump also addressed the possibility of a three-way meeting with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, Florida.
“Well, I don’t know. I know that he will meet, and we’ve had a meeting already in Alaska. I think he’d do another one. I don’t know about Miami. We have a big thing happening in Miami very soon. But no, he’ll meet. He’s willing to meet. He’s willing. He’d like to see the war end,” Trump said.
“I THINK THEY BOTH WANT TO SEE THE WAR END, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. IT’S TIME. A LOT OF PEOPLE BEING KILLED, AND THEY DON’T WANT THAT.”
The president said both sides are ready to negotiate. “I think they both want to see the war end, to be honest with you. It’s time. A lot of people being killed, and they don’t want that. But I think they both want to see the war ended.”
Trump has long promised to broker peace in Ukraine, arguing the conflict would never have started under his watch. The before-winter timeline Zelensky mentioned gives negotiators roughly three months to finalize terms before harsh weather complicates military operations and humanitarian conditions.
.@POTUS greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in NYC: "We have a very good relationship going, the two of us. The President and I are trying to figure out the solution, and I think it's going to happen. I really do." pic.twitter.com/F5vDRMreNM
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 22, 2026
