Trump: I'll call Zelensky, it's up to him to finish this

2025-08-16 09:16:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

President Donald Trump gave his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin a "10" rating.

"I can tell you, it was a very warm meeting," President Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

"You know, he's a tough guy, he's very tough, but it was a very warm meeting between two very important countries and it's a good thing when they get along. I think we're very close to an agreement. Now look, Ukraine has to agree to it."

The two world leaders met in Alaska on Friday afternoon in hopes of working peacefully toward an end to the war in Ukraine.

On Air Force One, President Trump said he was meeting with the Russian leader to "save many lives" and expressed hope for a ceasefire in the future.

Trump later reported that the summit was "incredibly productive" but that they were "not yet on track" to end the conflict.

"There were many, many points that we agreed on, most of them, I would say," Trump told the press after the meeting.

"Some important points we haven't resolved yet, but we've made some progress. So there's no deal until there's a deal."

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed similar sentiments, adding that the summit was a "constructive atmosphere of mutual respect."

Trump told "Hannity" that the leaders "spoke very frankly" and he thinks Putin "wants to see a deal made." The next steps in the peace talks include phone calls between President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other NATO leaders. Trump told "Hannity" that he would advise Zelenskyy to "make a deal."

"They are fighting a big war machine and we are, I think, close to a deal, but I don't like to say it. I always say, if I'm really close, I say 50-50 because a lot of things can happen. But I think President Putin would like to solve the problem and it was a problem that should never have happened. This was a war. All those families have lost someone and I have a book of thousands of people. They presented it to me today. Thousands of people, prisoners, who are going to be released."

Trump revealed that he is willing to attend a peace meeting between Putin and Zelensky.

"Now, it's up to President Zelenskyy to finish this, and I would also say that the European nations should be involved a little bit, but that's up to President Zelenskyy... and if they want, I'll be at the next meeting," he said. "They're going to schedule a meeting between President Zelenskyy, President Putin and me, I think. You know, I didn't ask about this... but I want to make sure that it gets done and we have a pretty good chance of getting it done."

Putin stated during the press conference that he "can confirm" President Trump's previous statements that a war would not have broken out under the Trump administration. Trump told Fox News that he believes it happened under the Biden administration due to "gross incompetence."

"I love to see this country be great again, and Vladimir said a little while ago, 'I've never seen anyone do so much so fast.' He said, 'Your country is like... hot as a gun,' and a year ago, he thought he was dead. Everybody thought he was dead," Trump said.

In the end, the president stressed the importance of finding an end to the conflict for the sake of the people.