Trump Claims Ukraine War End Promise Was Jest Amid Failed Negotiations

President Donald Trump has acknowledged that his repeated campaign pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine war 'on Day One' of his return to office was an exaggeration made 'in jest,' clarifying he spoke figuratively rather than literally. In interviews marking his first 100 days back in office, Trump emphasized that while he still aims to end the war, achieving a ceasefire has proven complex and negotiations have yet to yield a concrete agreement. Trump has shifted to a more hardline stance, suggesting Ukraine should cede some territory, including Crimea, to Russia as part of a potential peace deal, a position that would break with longstanding U.S. policy and has been rejected by Ukrainian President Zelensky. Trump also blamed the war's origins on Ukraine's interest in joining NATO and claimed that the conflict would not have started if he had been president. The administration has threatened to withhold military and intelligence support from Ukraine unless it agrees to U.S.-led negotiation terms, while expressing frustration with both Ukrainian and Russian positions during stalled talks. Trump's comments have drawn criticism for their inconsistency and the diplomatic challenges they pose, especially among European allies and Ukraine.