Trump warns Ukraine: “Otherwise things will turn out badly”

U.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky to seek a peaceful settlement, warning that otherwise “things will turn out badly.”

He made the statement while speaking with journalists at the White House.

In Trump’s view, “the people in Ukraine will hardly tolerate the continued conduct of military operations,” and therefore Zelensky “needs to make a deal.”

The American president also characterized the situation at the front. According to him, Russia is “steadily expanding the territory coming under its control in the course of the war.”

“Russia is a huge machine that is moving forward. They have captured a large piece of land. Week after week, more and more territory is being seized. The Russians are simply advancing. They have unlimited supplies of people, while Ukraine does not,” — Trump said.

Trump also spoke about the format of a possible settlement: according to him, peace in Ukraine can be achieved without Putin and Zelensky jointly signing documents, and a meeting between the two leaders to resolve the conflict is not necessary.

In addition to the Ukrainian topic, Trump said he had asked Putin to release American Steven Hubbard, who had previously been detained in Russia.

Earlier, the Western press reported that U.S. authorities would push Zelensky to agree to a peace deal with Russia on Russia’s terms, including territorial concessions. In return, Ukraine is being promised economic benefits. Media also reported that Trump may attempt to pressure Ukraine into agreeing to a peace deal with Russia by December.