Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that the war with Russia may be nearing a potential conclusion but stressed that this does not guarantee an actual end to the conflict, according to Ctrana.ua.
Speaking to journalists, Zelensky reportedly said on October 19 that “It hasn’t been possible to end this war quickly. We’ve moved closer to its possible conclusion — I can say that with certainty. But that doesn’t mean the war is truly over.”
He noted ongoing uncertainty around the status of contested territories, remarking that while Russia might imply it won't advance further, the U.S. sees the current moment as an opportunity to help Ukraine reclaim lost land.
Reaffirming Ukraine’s military position, Zelensky declared, “There will be no withdrawal from Donbas. Period.” He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not genuinely interested in Donbas but rather seeks to fabricate a “mirage of success,” cautioning that no one can predict whether Moscow will try to advance again in the future.
Despite the prospect of de-escalation, Zelensky submitted draft legislation to the Verkhovna Rada to extend martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days, until February.
Trump’s proposal causes stir
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn criticism over comments made during a recent meeting with Zelensky. According to Reuters, Trump denied pushing Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas region. Asked if he had told Zelensky that Ukraine must cede all of the Donbas region to Russia, Trump said no. "Let it be cut the way it is. It's cut up right now. I think 78% of the land is already taken by Russia," Trump said in response to a question from a Reuters reporter.
However, sources cited by Meduza reportedly claim that during private talks, Trump did propose handing over significant portions of Ukrainian territory to Russia — a suggestion that reportedly disappointed the Ukrainian delegation.
Trump also floated the idea of providing security guarantees to both Kyiv and Moscow — a notion that Ukrainian officials reportedly found perplexing. One source described the meeting as “quite unsuccessful,” adding that Trump warned Ukraine would "freeze and be destroyed" if it didn’t agree to a deal. Another source disputed the use of the word “destroyed” but confirmed Trump had used coarse language.
Sources reportedly suggested Trump’s stance may have been influenced by a recent phone call with Vladimir Putin. That conversation reportedly preceded Trump’s meeting with Zelensky and included an agreement to meet Putin again in Hungary.
According to The Washington Post, during their call, Putin proposed Ukraine relinquish the entire Donetsk region in exchange for a ceasefire, while promising to return parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
The October 17 meeting between Trump and Zelensky concluded with Trump urging both sides to “hold their current positions.” This came after Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s refusal to voluntarily cede any territory. He also publicly confirmed that discussions on long-range Tomahawk missile deliveries had been postponed.
Trump, for his part, responded bluntly: “We need those missiles ourselves.”
