U.S. President Donald Trump called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to "get together" to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has claimed thousands of lives since Russia's full-scale invasion three years ago. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump emphasized the urgency of ending the war, stating, "We want to stop killing millions of people."

Trump has been actively pushing for a peace deal, holding separate calls with both leaders. His administration recently engaged in talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, though Ukraine was not included in those discussions. The president's latest appeal follows remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who earlier on Friday suggested that a potential meeting between Trump and Putin would depend on progress toward ending the war.

In a social media interview, Rubio revealed that he had told Russian officials in Saudi Arabia that no meeting would occur until its purpose was clear. "The only way is to test them, to basically engage them and say, 'Okay, are you serious about ending the war? And if so, what are your demands?'" Rubio said, highlighting the need to assess Russia's commitment to peace.

Growing Tensions Between Trump and Zelenskyy

Rubio also addressed the deteriorating relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy, noting that the U.S. president is "very upset" with his Ukrainian counterpart. "We care about Ukraine because it has implications for our allies and ultimately for the world. There should be some level of gratitude here," Rubio said, hinting at frustrations over Ukraine's response to U.S. support.

During a meeting in Munich last Friday, Rubio and U.S. Vice President JD Vance discussed a deal with Zelenskyy to open Ukraine's natural resources to U.S. investment. Rubio framed the proposal as a security guarantee, stating, "We want to be in a joint venture with you, not because we're trying to steal from your country, but because we think that's actually a security guarantee."

Trump's National Security Adviser, Michael Waltz, echoed this sentiment at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), predicting that Zelenskyy would soon sign the deal, granting the U.S. access to Ukrainian mineral resources. "President Zelenskyy is going to sign that deal, and you will see that in the very short term, and that is good for Ukraine," Waltz said.

U.S. Proposes Softer UN Resolution on Ukraine

In a related development, the U.S. has drafted a United Nations resolution mourning the "tragic loss of life" in the Ukraine conflict and urging a swift end to the war. The 65-word text, reported by AFP and Reuters, does not assign blame to Russia or mention its occupation of Ukrainian territory. Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia described the draft as a "good move" but noted it does not address the conflict's root causes.

In contrast, a separate Ukrainian-European resolution explicitly condemns Russia's invasion and supports Kyiv's territorial integrity. The 193-member UN General Assembly is set to vote on the European-backed resolution on Monday.

Macron Warns Against Weakness Toward Putin

French President Emmanuel Macron plans to use his upcoming visit to the White House to caution Trump against showing weakness toward Putin. During an online session on Thursday, Macron stated, "I will tell him: deep down you cannot be weak in the face of President Putin. It's not you, it's not what you're made of, and it's not in your interests." He emphasized that such an approach would complicate dealings with China and Iran.

Macron also revealed that he had discussed Ukraine's peace prospects with Zelenskyy and European allies, reaffirming their commitment to a lasting peace and strengthened European security.

Proposal for European Peacekeeping Force

The idea of deploying a European peacekeeping force to Ukraine is expected to be discussed during Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visits to Washington. The proposal, backed by Britain and France, envisions 30,000 European troops stationed at key infrastructure sites, such as nuclear power plants, away from the front lines. The plan includes remote monitoring of the front lines using drones and other technology, with air power based outside Ukraine to deter violations and reopen Ukrainian airspace to commercial flights.

Germany, however, remains undecided on the proposal. Chancellor Olaf Scholz noted on Friday that the war is ongoing and a ceasefire remains distant. In a call with Zelenskyy, Scholz emphasized that Ukraine must be included in future peace negotiations and that European security issues should be discussed collectively.

As diplomatic efforts intensify, the international community watches closely to see whether Trump's push for direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin will yield progress toward ending the devastating conflict.