Trump urges Zelenskyy to make a deal with Russia, complaining US got 'nothing back' from Ukraine

US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday, 20 October, that he wants Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to "make a deal" with Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine for several years. Trump argued that the United States has gained nothing from supporting Kyiv, a stance that could shape the continuing efforts to end the war.

"We want Zelenskyy to make a deal. He can make a deal," Trump said. He added that Zelenskyy could have done so two years ago, when the two leaders had what he called a "little chat" in the Oval Office. Trump appeared to be referring to their tense meeting in early 2025. In his view, Zelenskyy will have to want a deal, because Ukrainians will not tolerate the situation much longer.

Trump repeatedly stressed that the US had received only "grief, death" and "tremendous monetary loss" for its help to Ukraine. "We have given tremendous amounts to Ukraine; we've got nothing back. Other than high diesel," he said, adding that American taxpayers are tired of it.

Background to the relationship

The two men's relationship has been volatile since Trump began his second term last January. It has worsened further in recent weeks, after Trump struck a diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticised the effect of Ukrainian strikes on Russia's energy sector on global fuel prices. Trump is also preparing for midterm elections that will decide the make-up of Congress for the last two years of his term.

Talks in Oslo

The remarks came shortly after Zelenskyy met a US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo. Witkoff is due to travel to Russia on Wednesday to meet Putin. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also took part in the talks.

Afterwards Zelenskyy sounded relatively upbeat. He said he had recently held a constructive call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and called for a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin. Addressing reported limits on US intelligence sharing, he said he was "thankful" that "intelligence works now", pointing to early warning of ballistic missiles as vital for civilians. In a later social media post he said the talks were constructive because everyone wants peace, and that "we will see what happens tomorrow."