Trump hosts Zelenskyy after call with Putin, says Thailand-Cambodia fighting pauses

US President Donald Trump said fighting between Thailand and Cambodia would pause under their original treaty. He said, “I am pleased to announce that the breakout fighting between Thailand and Cambodia will stop momentarily, and they will go back to living in PEACE, as per our recently agreed to original Treaty.”

Trump congratulated both leaders on reaching the decision. He said the process was fast and fair. He added that the United States helped.

He said he had resolved several conflicts during the past eleven months. He said the United States may have become “the REAL United Nations.” He said the United Nations had not helped much in current conflicts and added, “The United Nations must start getting active and involved in WORLD PEACE!”

Trump said he had a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago. The meeting was set for 1 p.m. in the main dining room. Press was invited.

Trump said both Putin and Zelenskyy want the war to end. “The two leaders want it to end,” he said at the start of the meeting.

He said he believes Putin is genuinely committed to ending the conflict. He said Ukraine has carried out strong strikes, including inside Russia. He added that some explosions in Russia “don’t look like they came from the Congo.”

Greeting Zelenskyy, Trump said, “This gentleman has worked very hard, and is very brave, and his people are very brave.”

Trump said he would speak with Putin again after the meeting and also call European leaders. But he warned, “It’ll either end or it’s going to go on for a long time and millions of additional people will be killed.”

Before the meeting, Zelenskyy said he would discuss territorial questions. He said negotiators had worked on a 20-point draft plan and that it was about 90 percent complete.

The plan included possible US security guarantees for Ukraine similar to those for NATO members. Zelenskyy said Ukraine could drop its NATO bid if it received protection against future attacks.

He also spoke on Christmas Day with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. He said sensitive issues remained and that the weeks ahead may be demanding.

Russia increased strikes on Ukraine before the talks. Three guided bombs hit homes in Sloviansk, killing one person and injuring three, local officials said. A day earlier, missiles and drones hit Kyiv, killing at least one person and injuring 27.

Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Trump-Putin call lasted more than an hour and was “friendly, benevolent, and businesslike.” He said the U.S. initiated the call. He said both leaders agreed to talk again soon.

Ushakov said Kyiv must make a political decision on the Donbas region and other disputed areas for a full cease-fire. He said Russian police and the national guard could remain in parts of Donetsk even under a demilitarised plan. He said negotiations may take time and that Ukraine and European partners had changed the US ideas.

Trump has been working on the Ukraine war throughout his first year back in office. He has shown frustration with both leaders. As a candidate in 2024, he once said the war could be settled in a day, but now says it is harder than expected.

After meeting Zelenskyy at the White House earlier, Trump urged both sides to stop fighting at the existing battle line.

Zelenskyy said he would consider withdrawing troops from the east if Russia also pulls back and if international forces monitor the area.

Putin wants control recognised over areas captured in four regions and Crimea. He also wants Ukraine to drop its NATO plans, withdraw from some areas it still holds, limit the size of its military, and give status to the Russian language. Ukraine has rejected these demands.

Ushakov said Russia expects Western troops not to deploy in Ukraine and warned they would be seen as targets.

Trump has shown openness to the idea that Putin might end the war if Ukraine gives up land in the Donbas and if Russia receives economic incentives to rejoin global markets.

Trump said, “The United States of America, as always, was proud to help!” He said the United Nations should play a stronger role in peace efforts. He plans more discussions with both sides and with European governments.