Trump says 'tremendous bad blood' between Zelensky and Putin is holding up peace deal in Ukraine

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Friday, October 17, that there is "tremendous bad blood" between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin that is delaying a peace deal in Ukraine despite the POTUS' recent win in Gaza.

While hosting Zelensky at the White House, Trump said, "They have tremendous bad blood. It's really is what is holding up I think a settlement. I think we are going to get it done, and we have to make it long-lasting, as I said in the Middle East, everlasting."

Zelensky says Trump has 'big chance now to finish' Ukraine war

Donald Trump added on Friday, "The Middle East is a much more complicated situation. You know, we had 59 countries involved, and every one of them agreed. And it's, you know, it's sort of amazing. Most people didn't think that was doable. This is going to be something I really believe that's going to get done. I had a very good talk yesterday with President Putin. I think he wants to get it done."

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president, sitting alongside the POTUS, said, "President Trump has a big chance now to finish this war."

Zelensky added, "President Trump has really showed for the world that he can manage a ceasefire in the Middle East. And that's why I hope that he will do this. And we will also have such big success. For Ukraine, it's a big chance, and I hope that President Trump can manage it."

Moreover, Trump added at one point during the meeting, "We need Tomahawks, and we need a lot of other things that we've been sending over the last four years to Ukraine."

Notably, Trump and Zelensky’s meeting took place a day after the POTUS held a phone call with the Russian President.

The Ukrainian President has made clear that his main aim is to secure better defenses for Ukraine amid Russia’s constant aerial bombings of civilian targets like cities, energy infrastructure, and hospitals, and his big-ticket item is the American Tomahawk missile.

Meanwhile, after his call with Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the POTUS said "great progress" was made, but did not provide any details on how it was achieved.

Reportedly, they agreed to once again meet in person, and this time in Hungary.

In a post on X on Thursday, Zelensky wrote that, "Nothing has changed for Russia — it is still terrorizing life in Ukraine."

He added, "Therefore, every air defense system for Ukraine matters — it saves lives. Every decision that can strengthen us brings the end of the war closer."

Trump says he wants Ukraine and Russia to 'both claim victory'

After his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump said that he wanted Ukraine and Russia to "both claim victory" and "make a deal" to end the war with the current border lines.

The POTUS wrote on Truth Social, "The meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was very interesting, and cordial, but I told him, as I likewise strongly suggested to President Putin, that it is time to stop the killing, and make a DEAL!"

"Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide! No more shooting, no more Death, no more vast and unsustainable sums of money spent," Trump added.

He concluded his post and mentioned, "This is a War that would have never started if I were President. Thousands of people being slaughtered each and every week — NO MORE, GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES IN PEACE!"

The statement by Trump was a reversal from his earlier stance when he called Russia a "paper tiger" and said that he believed Ukraine should be able to get all of its land back from Russia.

His earlier strong stance against Russia surprised Zelensky and other supporters of Ukraine, and also won praise from some of Trump’s harshest critics.