During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly pledged to end the war in Ukraine, often asserting he could do so within 24 hours of taking office. His reasoning centered on several key themes: preventing further loss of life, avoiding a potential third world war, and redirecting American resources away from foreign conflicts.
Here are some of his notable quotes on the matter, with references:
On Stopping the Killing:
A primary reason Trump cited for ending the war was the human cost. He frequently lamented the deaths of both Ukrainians and Russians.
In a May 2023 CNN town hall, he said, “They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I’ll have that done in 24 hours.” This sentiment was a cornerstone of his campaign messaging on the conflict.
On Preventing a Wider Conflict:
Trump often warned that the war in Ukraine could escalate into a global conflict, a scenario he claimed his leadership would prevent.
In February 2025, he remarked, “this could even end up in a World War III... you’re going to end up in World War III over something that should have never happened.” This quote, reported by 10 News First, highlights his fear of the war spiraling out of control.
On Shifting Away from “Endless Wars”:
A consistent theme of Trump’s foreign policy rhetoric has been the rejection of “endless wars” and the influence of what he terms “warmongers and America-last globalists.”
During a January 2024 rally in New Hampshire, he characterized some of his political opponents as “warmongers” and stated that a return to his presidency would mean “we turn the page forever on those foolish, stupid days of never-ending wars.” This was reported by the Associated Press as part of his “Agenda 47” foreign policy platform.
On Negotiating a Deal:
Trump consistently expressed confidence in his ability to bring both sides to the negotiating table, although he often remained vague on the specifics of a potential deal.
In a March 2023 interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, he stated, “There’s a very easy negotiation to take place. But I don’t want to tell you what it is because then I can’t use that negotiation; it’ll never work...But it’s a very easy negotiation to take place. I will have it solved within one day, a peace between them.” This quote, covered by multiple outlets including the Associated Press, underscores his belief in his personal deal-making abilities as the key to peace.
At a rally in March 2025, he reiterated his commitment to dialogue, saying, “If you want to end wars you have to talk to both sides.” A video of this address was broadcast by news outlets.
Well, it sounds as if Trump is done negotiating, now it’s just one sided demands, no different than the EU, WEF, Neocons, Democrats, and Biden’s Girls.