US President Donald Trump on 13 October 2026 declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared more willing than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach a peace settlement, even as reporters pressed him on alleged Russian strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure in apparent violation of a proposed ceasefire. Trump made the remarks at the White House before departing for a political rally in Ohio.

What Trump Said

'I think, actually, Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelensky,' Trump told reporters. When challenged on whether Moscow had formally agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, Trump insisted both governments were on board. 'I think they both support it. I think they want to make a deal, but they don't know how. But we're going to get them to make a deal,' he said.

Notably, reporters pointed out that Putin had not publicly committed to the energy ceasefire proposal, a gap Trump did not directly address. Asked how he intended to persuade Putin to comply, Trump shifted emphasis to Kyiv. 'Well, I think what's happening is he wants to make a deal, and we have to get Zelensky to want to make a deal,' the President said.

Trump's Claim That Both Sides Already Agreed

When a reporter challenged Trump's earlier assertion that Russia and Ukraine had already agreed to a ceasefire, he stood by the claim on his own authority. 'Well, they agreed, you know why? Because I said you agree, that's why. They agreed because I said they agreed and that thing has to get settled,' he said. Trump did not provide details of any formal understanding between the two governments, nor did he explain how any proposed arrangement would be monitored or enforced.

Violations and Blame

Asked about reports that Russia had struck Ukrainian targets overnight — potentially breaching the proposed energy ceasefire — Trump said he needed to review the circumstances. 'I'm not sure about that and we'll take a look,' he said. He subsequently suggested that culpability was not one-sided. 'Well, I'd have to look at it and see because there's been violations on both sides,' Trump said. The remarks drew scrutiny given that the ceasefire proposal, as publicly described, had not yet been formally accepted by either government.

Casualty Figures and Urgency

Trump cited what he described as mounting battlefield deaths to argue for the urgency of a negotiated end to the conflict. 'This month, they lost 32,000 people in that war, and it's ridiculous. So, they have to get together and get it done,' he said, repeating the figure and describing those killed as predominantly young soldiers. He did not identify the source of the estimate, which could not be independently verified from his remarks.

Background: The Russia-Ukraine War

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 and has produced years of sustained fighting, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, and heavy casualties on both sides. Both governments have repeatedly accused each other of targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. Trump has positioned himself as the broker capable of ending the conflict, though no formal peace framework has been publicly confirmed by either Moscow or Kyiv. Whether his latest remarks accelerate or complicate diplomatic efforts remains to be seen.