Several U.S. lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties have expressed discontent with President Donald Trump’s recent comments regarding his administration’s efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. During his address to Congress, Trump claimed that the United States is working “very hard” to resolve the conflict.
Republican Congressman Don Bacon pointed out that Trump failed to label Ukraine as a “victim” and Russia as the “aggressor” in his statement. He remarked,
“I would have liked the speech to define Ukraine as a good democratic state, a victim, and Russia as the aggressor. We (the U.S.) need to be on the right side. This was a weak part of the speech. There are good things in it, but I wish he (Trump) had done better.”
Democratic Congressman Eugene Vindman also voiced his dissatisfaction, criticizing Trump for not presenting any proposals or plans to halt the Russian aggression against Ukraine. He stated,
“He (Trump) mentioned Ukraine a few times in the address, but he did not acknowledge that it marks the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion, and there is no plan to stop the war. This was completely inappropriate and did not meet the moment.”
Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz expressed her expectation for Trump to announce funding for Ukraine, which she deemed essential for countering Russian military actions. She said,
“What did he (Trump) say? I thought he would address Congress and provide the critical funding needed to deter Russia. Ukraine must remain an independent state, and we must use every possible means to prevent (Vladimir) Putin from realizing his dream of seizing Ukraine.”
In his first address to Congress since beginning his second term, Trump mentioned the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, asserting that Washington is “working very hard” to bring it to an end. He reiterated that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 would not have occurred had he been president at that time and claimed to have ended “eight wars” during his previous administration.
Before his election as president in 2024, Trump had repeatedly stated that he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours, though he later acknowledged that he made this claim “jokingly.” In August 2025, he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, where they discussed potential avenues for concluding the conflict.
Since Trump’s return to power, several bilateral and trilateral summits have taken place among Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. to discuss terms for a potential peace agreement. However, Moscow continues to issue ultimatums, demanding that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, while also seeking control over the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Russian attacks persist, resulting in civilian casualties across Ukraine and inflicting significant economic damage, particularly in the energy sector.
Ukrainian officials assert that Kyiv is open to compromises but not at the expense of its independence and sovereignty. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that territorial issues remain unresolved in negotiations and has expressed his willingness to discuss these matters directly with Putin.
On February 25, Zelensky confirmed a bilateral meeting between Ukrainian and American delegations scheduled for February 26 in Geneva. He also indicated that another round of trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia is anticipated in early March.
U.S. lawmakers from both parties criticized President Trump's recent comments on the Ukraine conflict, highlighting his failure to recognize Ukraine as a victim. They called for clearer proposals to support Ukraine and address the ongoing war with Russia.