The former president, who has long warned that Russia is a "big machine" that has taken "a very large piece of land," said on Tuesday that the conflict was not inevitable.
Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff sat across from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Oslo, probing the feasibility of a negotiated ceasefire after four years of Russian aggression.
Trump’s remarks arrive after the U.S. approved $5.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine last quarter, yet he cautioned that unconditional support could draw the war deeper.
Zelenskiy, who has vowed to hold the frontline, told reporters he remains committed to fighting until Russia is defeated but acknowledged that diplomatic options must be explored.
The Oslo talks are set to be followed by a joint briefing in Washington later this month, where officials will outline a framework for a potential peace deal.
In the village of Snihurivka, a family of four huddles under a makeshift shelter, hoping that any truce will bring them home.