Trump Says Zelensky ‘Has to Get Moving’ on Peace Talks, Warns of ‘Great Opportunity’ as Russia Seeks Deal

While speaking to reporters from the White House lawn, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accelerate its engagement in peace negotiations with Moscow or risk missing what Trump described as a significant diplomatic window.

Speaking to the press, Trump stated, “Russia wants to make a deal, and Zelensky’s gonna have to get moving — otherwise he’s going to miss a great opportunity. He has to move.” The president framed the comment as both a warning and a strategic nudge for Ukraine’s leader to engage more rapidly in the peace process.

Trump’s message reflects a broader U.S. diplomatic effort to push forward negotiations aimed at ending the war that erupted with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Despite numerous rounds of talks in cities like Abu Dhabi, concrete progress toward a ceasefire or lasting settlement has been elusive.

The recent series of trilateral talks involving Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations yielded only a limited prisoner exchange and no substantial breakthroughs on core issues such as territorial control, security guarantees, and sovereignty concerns. According to the BBC, the terms of the agreement specify that both Russia and Ukraine will release 157 prisoners of war each, split evenly between the sides, totaling 314. The swap took place shortly after the conclusion of the second day of trilateral talks in the UAE capital.

Reporting from Reuters notes that Ukrainian and Russian negotiators continue to disagree over territorial control and the future status of contested regions in eastern Ukraine. European leaders and NATO allies have repeatedly emphasized that any peace settlement must fully respect international law and Ukraine’s right to self-determination, even as they work with Washington on diplomatic strategy.

In an interview with The Atlantic earlier this month, Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine is backing U.S. proposals designed to advance peace talks and accelerate a potential agreement. He also stressed Ukraine’s willingness to pursue elections and broader democratic processes once an effective ceasefire and international guarantees are in place.

Russia’s official stance remains cautious. Kremlin representatives claim readiness for dialogue under terms that safeguard Moscow’s strategic interests, though specifics on Russia’s negotiation positions remain limited in public forums. In December, U.S. officials told the Associated Press, under the condition of anonymity, that Russia signaled it wouldn’t object to Ukraine joining the European Union as a potential peace settlement.

Meanwhile, fighting continues on the ground in eastern Ukraine, with periodic escalations in artillery and drone strikes reported, underscoring the stakes of stalled diplomacy.