On December 12, former President Donald Trump honored former U.S. NHL players in the White House, answering a Polish journalist’s question about Ukraine’s war and calling it absurd.
Trump Asked About the War in Ukraine
On Friday, December 12, Trump hosted retired members of the U.S. national hockey team at the White House, awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest U.S. state honor. During the event he also answered questions from reporters.
Polish Radio correspondent Marek Wałkuski asked: “What lesson does Ukraine learn from this 45-year-old victory over a Russian team in the face of all odds?”
President’s Response
The situation is similar, right?” Trump said. He noted that work is underway to secure a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. “We will see. I think we will know soon,” he added.
He warned that until a peace deal is signed, there will likely be many fatalities. “Last month, 25,000 soldiers lost their lives in Ukraine and Russia. Twenty-five thousand—can you imagine that? It’s absurd,” he said.
White House: President Frustrated With Ukraine and Russia
During a Thursday press briefing, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump is tired of talks with Russia and Ukraine about ending the conflict. “We still don’t know if true peace is possible, and we can’t move forward,” she said.
The president is “extremely frustrated” with both sides and wants results, not more meetings. The administration has spent more than 30 hours in recent weeks on meetings with Russians, Ukrainians, and Europeans, yet progress remains limited. “We will see what happens this weekend,” she added.
She noted that White House envoy Steve Witkoff and his team continue diplomatic work.