White House Says Trump Wants “Action, Not Rhetoric” as Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Stall

The White House signaled on Thursday that US President Donald Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with the sluggish pace of negotiations aimed at ending the Russia–Ukraine conflict, now entering its fourth year. With multiple rounds of talks yielding limited progress, Washington appears prepared to adopt a more assertive stance as diplomatic efforts continue to falter.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the President is no longer willing to entertain “meetings just for the sake of meeting,” adding that Trump expects genuine movement from both Moscow and Kyiv. According to Leavitt, the President wants “action, not more talk,” underscoring Washington’s central role as mediator in the ongoing discussions.

Regarding the Ukraine conflict, Leavitt emphasized in a post shared by Rapid Response 47 on December 11, 2025, that Trump remains “deeply dissatisfied with both sides” and is determined to push for tangible outcomes rather than endless dialogue.

Trump Demands Results Over Dialogue

“The President is deeply irritated with both sides of this conflict. He is tired of holding meetings merely for the purpose of doing so. He wants to stop talking. He desires action,” Leavitt stated during a press briefing. “He wants this war to end.”

She confirmed that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his team were holding real-time discussions with both Russian and Ukrainian officials. Leavitt also noted that Trump had engaged with European leaders the previous day to coordinate diplomatic strategies aimed at accelerating progress toward a settlement.

Leavitt added that Washington has not yet decided whether to send a high-level representative to the upcoming peace talks scheduled for this weekend. “We will send a delegate if we believe the meetings merit the United States’ time and if there is a genuine likelihood of achieving a peace agreement. Whether true peace can be reached remains uncertain,” she said.

Zelenskyy Faces Intensifying Pressure as Washington Pushes for a Deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently acknowledged that Washington has urged Kyiv to consider pulling back troops from parts of the Donetsk region. The proposal includes the creation of a government-administered “free economic zone” in eastern Ukraine in an effort to reduce hostilities and create space for negotiations.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine has submitted a set of 20 counter-proposals to US officials, including a demand for robust security guarantees. He also reiterated that any decision involving territorial concessions would require approval from Ukrainian citizens through a nationwide referendum.

Reports suggest that Trump wants a peace agreement finalized by Christmas, adding political pressure on Kyiv as heavy fighting continues across the Donbas and at other strategic points along the frontline.

The US-backed peace plan includes a 20-point framework accompanied by supplementary documents outlining long-term security and reconstruction measures. Although the latest version of the proposal has not been released publicly, it is reportedly more balanced than earlier drafts that Kyiv criticized for leaning too closely toward Moscow’s demands.

Zelenskyy noted that key disputes remain unresolved, including the future status of the Donetsk region and management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which remains under Russian control. He emphasized that Ukraine’s negotiation stance continues to prioritize sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international oversight of critical infrastructure.