US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky now want to bring their war to an end. The remark came at an odd moment, just as Russia carried out fresh air strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv that killed at least 18 people, underscoring the gap between diplomatic optimism and the reality on the ground.
What Trump Told Reporters at the White House
Speaking to reporters gathered at the White House, Trump said with confidence, "President Putin wants to end this war. I can say this with full confidence. We had a good conversation. President Zelensky also now really wants to end the war. We are going to the NATO summit and this will be discussed there too." He added that over the weekend he had separate phone conversations with both Putin and Zelensky, during which efforts to end the Ukraine war came up.
The Occasion Was the Launch of 'Trump Accounts' for Kids
Trump made these remarks while speaking to reporters on the occasion of the launch of the 'Trump Accounts' scheme for children at the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Fielding questions in the Oval Office about the Ukraine war, he used the moment to repeat some of his older claims about ending conflicts around the world.
The Claim of Stopping Eight Wars, Including India and Pakistan
Trump once again asserted that he has ended a total of eight wars, including the conflict between India and Pakistan. In his words, "I ended eight wars. I thought the Ukraine matter would be easy because I know both leaders. I also reduced tension between India and Pakistan." He went further, claiming that the India-Pakistan standoff could have escalated into a nuclear war. "That situation could have reached nuclear war. According to Pakistan's Prime Minister, four to five crore people could have died. Eleven planes had already been shot down and the conflict continued for four days, but I got it stopped," Trump said. His remarks referred to 'Operation Sindoor', which India carried out last year.
India Has Repeatedly Rejected Mediation Claims
India's government, however, has consistently rejected any claims of third party mediation in the matter. New Delhi maintains that the understanding reached in May 2025 to end the conflict with Pakistan came through direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations, or DGMOs, of both countries, not through any outside intervention. The gap between Trump's version of events and India's official position remains clear, even as the American president continues to describe his own role in expansive terms.
