Trump Emphasizes Urgent Need to End Ukraine Conflict After 'Very Good' Davos Meeting with Zelensky
US President Donald Trump has reiterated his firm stance that the ongoing war in Ukraine must come to an end, following what he described as a very good meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The high-level discussion, which took place on January 22, 2026, on the sidelines of the 56th annual WEF gathering, lasted approximately one hour according to Trump, with the White House later confirming this timeline.
Trump's Direct Message to Putin: 'This War Has to End'
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, President Trump was unequivocal about his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This war has to end, Trump stated firmly, adding, A lot of people have been killed. He revealed that a US delegation would be meeting with Putin today or tomorrow, though specific details about this upcoming engagement were not provided during his remarks.
Trump characterized his discussion with President Zelensky as productive, saying, The meeting was good with President Zelensky. We'll see how it turns out. Notably, he confirmed that the possibility of Ukraine joining the Board of Peace—a US-initiated international peace framework unveiled at Davos—was not discussed during their conversation.
Progress Toward Peace: Trump Claims Being 'Reasonably Close' to Deal
In earlier comments made on January 21 during the World Economic Forum, President Trump expressed optimism about diplomatic efforts to resolve the nearly four-year-old conflict. I am reasonably close to brokering a deal to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, he announced, while acknowledging the inherent complexity of negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Trump emphasized the critical importance of ending hostilities, stating, It's got to get done. Saving a lot of lives, saving millions of lives. He highlighted the personal animosity between the two leaders as a significant obstacle, noting, With Ukraine and Russia, this tremendous hatred between President Zelensky and President Putin—that's not good. That's not good for settlements.
Despite recognizing that the United Nations should play a larger role in such conflicts, Trump asserted his own suitability as a mediator, declaring confidently, I'm good at this stuff, referring to his ability to settle wars.
Challenges and Urgency in Negotiations
President Trump conveyed a sense of urgency to both leaders, remarking, I said Putin and Zelensky would be stupid if they don't end it now. And I know they're not stupid. However, he candidly admitted to repeated setbacks in the peace process, explaining, Many times we had a deal with Russia, and Zelenskyy didn't agree. It's a very difficult balance.
On the Ukrainian side, President Zelensky has previously indicated that his envoys are collaborating with US officials to finalize documents related to a proposed peace settlement. These documents are expected to address crucial post-war elements such as:
- Security guarantees for Ukraine
- Economic recovery measures
- Long-term stability frameworks
No specific timeline for a potential agreement has been announced, underscoring the ongoing nature of these delicate negotiations.
Putin's Response and Broader Peace Initiatives
In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to contribute to international peace efforts through Trump's Board of Peace initiative. During talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Kremlin, Putin announced that Moscow is prepared to allocate $1 billion from its frozen assets to assist in rebuilding Gaza through the proposed Board of Peace Council.
Putin stated, We believe that the creation and efficient functioning of a sovereign Palestinian state is the only path to a final resolution of the Middle East conflict. His comments coincided with leaders and senior officials from 19 countries joining President Trump at the signing ceremony of the Board of Peace Charter in Davos.
The Russian leader welcomed Trump's peace efforts and confirmed that Russia had received an invitation to join the Board of Peace. Russia is ready to allocate $1 billion from its frozen assets in the United States for rebuilding Gaza, Putin affirmed, adding that a final decision on Russia's participation would follow consultations with Moscow's strategic partners.
This series of diplomatic engagements at Davos highlights the multifaceted nature of global peace initiatives, with the Ukraine conflict remaining a central focus of international attention and negotiation efforts.
