STORY: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday (May 19) "it would be great" for Russia and Ukraine to hold ceasefire talks at the Vatican, saying it would add extra significance to the proceedings.

Trump, describing his phone call earlier with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said he told him, "When are we going to end this, Vladimir?"

During a White House event honoring law enforcement officers, Trump said "very, very big egos" were involved in the talks and talked about the substantial financial commitments made by the U.S. due to the funding given to Ukraine by the Biden administration.

Trump expressed confidence that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are inclined towards resolution and noted that Putin has "had enough."

Trump said on Monday Russia and Ukraine will immediately start ceasefire negotiations in the three-year-old conflict, but he did not appear to secure major concessions from President Vladimir Putin during a two-hour phone call.

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VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MAY 19, 2025) (U.S. NETWORK POOL - No use USA)

1. U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SPEAKING AT WHITE HOUSE EVENT TO AWARD LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"I think it would be great to have it at the Vatican and maybe it would have some extra significance. And I saw that it was discussed yesterday. So I thought that people told me that they'd be honored to do it. I would imagine they would be. So no, I think it would be maybe helpful. There's tremendous bitterness, anger. And I think maybe that could help some of that anger. So having it at the Vatican would be, in Rome, would be a very, I think it'd be a great idea. Thank you."

3. TRUMP SPEAKING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"I think something is going to happen. It's a very, very big egos involved, I'll tell you. Big egos involved. But I think something's going to happen. And if it doesn't, I'd just back away and they're going to have to keep going. Again, this is a European situation. It should have remained a European situation, should have remained. But we have, because the past administration felt very strongly that we should be involved, we got involved much more than Europe did in terms of the money."

5. TRUMP SPEAKING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"We don't have boots on the ground. We wouldn't have boots on the ground, but we do have a big stake. And the financial amount that was put up is just crazy. It's crazy."

7. TRUMP SPEAKING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"I believe (Russian President Vladimir) Putin wants to do it. Now, if I thought Putin didn't want to, that's what I do, my whole life is like deals. One big deal. And if I thought that President Putin did not want to get this over with, I wouldn't even be talking about it."

9. TRUMP SPEAKING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"I think he's had enough. I think he's had enough. It's been a long time. This has been going on for more than three years."

11. TRUMP SPEAKING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, IN EXCHANGE WITH JOURNALIST:

JOURNALIST ASKING (OFF CAMERA): "You have a red line in your head of what would cause you to back away?"

TRUMP: "Yeah in my head, but not something I'm going to announce. But yeah, definitely in my head I do. Yeah."

13. JOURNALISTS DURING OVAL OFFICE EVENT

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, IN EXCHANGE WITH JOURNALIST:

JOURNALIST ASKING (OFF CAMERA): "Why haven't you increased the sanctions on Russia yet?"

TRUMP: "Well, because I think there's a chance of getting something done. And if you do that, you can also make it much worse. But there could be a time when that's going to happen, yeah."

15. TRUMP SPEAKING

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"Look, he's a strong person, (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy's a strong guy, and he's not the easiest person to deal with. But I think that he wants to stop. He's, you know, it's a very bad thing that's happening over there. I think he wants to stop."

17. TRUMP SPEAKING TO FAMILIES AWARDED MEDAL