President Donald Trump has announced his plan to end the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, expressing confidence that the leaders of both nations are eager to negotiate a resolution. Speaking to reporters during a press gaggle at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, Trump asserted that he is making concerted efforts toward achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine.

“And we’re working very hard on it,” he stated, as reported by Fox News. “It’s a war that should have never started.”

Trump reiterated his belief that both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin are motivated to end the prolonged conflict. While the war has persisted since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, it escalated into a full-scale invasion in 2022, leading to tens of thousands of casualties, the displacement of millions, and significant economic turmoil across Europe and beyond. The former and current U.S. president emphasized that an opportunity now exists to bring the fighting to a close.

When asked if Zelenskyy would be directly involved in the peace conversations, Trump confirmed that he would be. “He will be involved, yes,” Trump said, making it clear that Ukraine would not be sidelined in the process.

A key point of contention has been the continued supply of U.S. weapons to Ukraine. When pressed by a reporter about whether European nations would be allowed to purchase American-made weapons originally allocated for Ukraine, Trump confirmed that he would allow such transactions. This decision signals a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy regarding military aid to Ukraine, reflecting Trump’s stated intention of reducing America’s direct involvement in the conflict while still maintaining economic and strategic leverage.

Trump’s comments come at a time when speculation about Russia’s war strategy has intensified. While Putin has long maintained an aggressive stance against Ukraine, Trump suggested that the Russian leader is now looking for a way to bring the conflict to an end.

“I think he wants to stop fighting,” Trump said. “They have a big, powerful machine, you understand that? And they defeated Hitler, and they defeated Napoleon. You know, he’s been fighting a long time… I think he would like to stop fighting.”

He added: “Zelenskyy wants to end it, too.”

With both leaders allegedly willing to negotiate, diplomatic talks between the United States and Russia are scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia later this week. While earlier reports indicated that Ukraine would not be directly involved in these initial discussions, the situation remains fluid, with key stakeholders from multiple nations involved.

Michael Waltz, Trump’s National Security Advisor, provided additional details about the administration’s approach during an appearance on Fox News Sunday. Waltz emphasized that these negotiations will focus on “key tenets” aimed at achieving a “permanent end to the war.”

“The United States and Europe have supported [the Ukrainian] effort, but the United States unquestionably has borne the brunt of that support over the years. But now, President Trump is clear: it needs to come to an end,” Waltz stated.

Trump’s remarks came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared on Meet the Press in an interview aired by NBC News. During the interview, Zelenskyy shared his perspective on Putin’s intentions, expressing deep skepticism about the Russian leader’s commitment to peace.

“I said that [Putin] is a liar,” Zelenskyy said, referencing a recent phone call with Trump. “And he said, ‘I think my feeling is that he’s ready for these negotiations.’ And I said to him, ‘No, he’s a liar. He doesn’t want any peace.’”

Zelenskyy also suggested that Putin might be wary of Trump’s negotiating tactics. “But I think he’s really a little bit scared about President Trump,” he added. “And I think the president has this chance, and he’s strong. And I think that really, he can push Putin to peace negotiations. Yes, I think so. I think he can, but don’t trust him. Don’t trust Putin. Don’t trust just words about ceasefire.”

Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the situation on Thursday, making it clear that the U.S. expects productive negotiations but also has contingency plans should Putin fail to negotiate in good faith. Vance noted that the administration is considering a broad range of diplomatic, economic, and strategic options to ensure a favorable resolution for Ukraine.

“If you look at President Trump’s approach to this, the range of options is extremely broad, and there are economic tools of leverage. There are, of course, military tools of leverage. There’s a whole host of things that we could do. But fundamentally, I think the president wants to have a productive negotiation, both with Putin and with Zelenskyy,” Vance said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

“I think there is a deal that is going to come out of this that’s going to shock a lot of people,” Vance added, implying that the administration’s approach may yield unexpected but significant results.

The upcoming negotiations are expected to be a crucial test of Trump’s diplomatic strategy and could redefine the United States’ role in global conflict resolution. Given the immense stakes—ranging from European security to global economic stability—the outcome of these discussions could shape international relations for years to come.

While critics remain skeptical of Trump’s ability to broker a sustainable peace, his supporters argue that his direct and transactional approach to diplomacy could be the key to achieving what previous administrations have failed to do: ending the largest European conflict since World War II.

With world leaders, military analysts, and political observers closely watching the unfolding situation, the question remains: can Trump actually bring an end to the war? If so, what would a peace deal look like, and what compromises would each side have to make?

As negotiations begin, all eyes will be on Saudi Arabia, where Trump’s team will attempt to secure what could be one of the most significant diplomatic agreements of the 21st century.