President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Russia after it carried out missile strikes at a moment when efforts were underway to arrange direct peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking with reporters, Trump touched on a broad range of issues, including the rapidly developing situation surrounding the proposed negotiations.

The idea for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders reportedly came from Putin, who suggested holding talks shortly after Western governments warned Moscow that additional sanctions would be imposed if it refused to agree to a 30-day ceasefire. In response, Zelenskyy called for the talks to take place face-to-face in Istanbul, signaling that his administration was open to diplomacy but unwilling to concede key points of sovereignty.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia intended to send a delegation to the discussions, though he did not specify who would be included. Peskov also avoided confirming whether Putin himself planned to attend, leaving open questions about the seriousness and potential impact of the meeting.

Meanwhile, reports circulated in Washington suggesting that U.S. officials had explored a possible ceasefire framework. That proposal was said to include international recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea—territory Moscow seized in 2014—as well as freezing the existing frontlines where forces currently stand. However, the Ukrainian president quickly dismissed any suggestion of legitimizing Russia’s claim to Crimea. For years, Zelenskyy has stated that the peninsula remains an essential part of Ukraine and that any peace agreement must address its future.

In 2022, Zelenskyy declared that Russia’s war on Ukraine and “on the entire free Europe” started with the occupation of Crimea and must conclude with its liberation. His remarks, originally reported by Axios, underscored that Crimea remains a firm red line that Ukraine will not negotiate away.

Trump, however, directed criticism at earlier U.S. administrations, claiming that the loss of Crimea occurred under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. According to Trump, the peninsula was effectively surrendered without resistance more than a decade ago. “Crimea was given away by Barack Hussein Obama, and by Biden, like 11 or 12 years ago,” Trump told reporters. He questioned why the issue was resurfacing now, arguing that previous leaders allowed Russia to take the territory without consequence. Trump said he advised Zelenskyy to “go back to Obama” and ask why the United States government at the time failed to act.

Turning to the ongoing diplomatic push, Trump emphasized that he wanted Putin to halt military actions immediately and work toward a final peace settlement. “Stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal,” he said. Trump insisted that a framework for resolving the conflict already exists and that he believes a comprehensive deal is within reach if Russia is willing to participate genuinely.

He went on to claim that the United States has regained international respect since he returned to office. “There’s no more games,” Trump said. “We have somebody that knows what he’s doing, not like the previous person who didn’t have a clue.”

While dealing with foreign policy challenges, Trump also addressed the unrest in Los Angeles following large-scale demonstrations against ICE operations. Earlier in the day, he issued warnings to protesters who had spat on police officers, calling their actions unacceptable and promising consequences.

Standing alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New Jersey before boarding Air Force One, Trump criticized the behavior of those who confronted law enforcement during the anti-ICE demonstrations. On Saturday, he authorized the deployment of more than 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles as the protests intensified in response to ICE raids targeting employers accused of hiring undocumented workers.

Trump also said he was weighing the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act should the situation deteriorate further. A recent report identified one of the primary groups responsible for organizing the demonstrations that escalated into harassment of both local officers and federal immigration agents.

In addition to activating nearly 2,000 California National Guard personnel, Trump confirmed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth placed another 500 U.S. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton on standby in case additional support was required. With more protests expected throughout California in the coming days, federal and state authorities continued preparing for potential unrest.