Trump echoed some of Hegseths comments as he spoke to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon, saying it seems unlikely Ukraine would see its borders return to pre-2014 (when Russia annexed Crimea) though he believed some of it would come back. Asked whether he would support Zelenskyy ceding territory or exchanging territory in any agreement to end the war, Trump responded, Well hes going to have to do what he has to do but, you know, his poll numbers arent particularly great, to put it mildly. On whether he viewed Ukraine as an equal member of the peace process, Trump paused before responding: Its an interesting question. I think they have to make peace. Their people are being killed, and I think they have to make peace. He then appeared to blame Ukraine for the conflict despite Russias aggression. I said that was not a good war to go into. And I think they have to make peace, he continued.