U.S. President Donald Trump was caught on a live microphone boasting that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the Ukraine war for him. The comments were made in Washington on Monday, even as Russian strikes killed civilians across Ukraine.
The remark came during a closed-door conversation with European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron. “I think he wants to make a deal for me. Do you understand? As crazy as that sounds,” Trump was overheard saying.
The comments followed Trump’s high-profile meeting with Putin in Alaska last Friday. That summit ended without the ceasefire Trump had promised or the sanctions he had threatened if Russia refused to move toward peace.
Instead, Putin demanded Ukraine give up Crimea, surrender parts of the Donbas, and abandon its goal of joining NATO. The Russian president also refused to sign any path toward compromise without major territorial concessions.
Hours before Trump’s White House meeting with Zelensky, Russian bombs hit several Ukrainian cities. At least 10 people were reported dead, including two siblings, a toddler and her 16-year-old brother, according to Ukrainian officials.
U.S. President Trump holds talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky during a White House meeting on August 18. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Despite the deadly attacks, Trump spoke optimistically about his relationship with Putin. Addressing reporters in the East Room, he said, “I don’t think there’s any issue that’s overly complex. I’ve always had a great relationship with him, and I think that President Putin wants to find an answer too.”
The White House meeting gathered a rare group of global leaders. Alongside Zelensky, there was German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Trump on a hot mic on Putin: “I think he wants to make a deal for me. Do you understand? As crazy as it sounds.” pic.twitter.com/lshkxtJ3Qm
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 18, 2025
The gathering marked the first Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky since February. At that earlier encounter, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance scolded Zelensky and told him he had “no cards” to play in the war.
This week’s session looked different. European leaders traveled to Washington at short notice in a strong show of solidarity with Ukraine. Zelensky entered the meeting with visible support from his allies as Russia’s assault continued.
Both American and European officials said they hoped the discussions would prepare the ground for possible trilateral talks with Putin. That would mark the most serious attempt yet to test whether Moscow is ready to discuss a settlement.
Macron and Merz pressed for any future meeting with Putin to include an explicit ceasefire. They warned that talks without such terms could give Russia time to regroup and continue the war.
Trump left open the option of providing American security support if a ceasefire is reached. “When it comes to security, there’s going to be a lot of help. They [Europe] are a first line of defense, but we’ll help them out,” he said.
He also said U.S. troops could one day help enforce any agreement, if leaders agreed on a plan. “We’re going to work with Ukraine. We’re going to work with everybody. If there’s peace, the peace has to stay long-term,” Trump said.
The remarks revealed Trump’s continuing belief that his personal ties with Putin could unlock negotiations. But critics note that after the failed Alaska summit and Russia’s new wave of deadly strikes, the path to peace looks as distant as ever.
