President Trump claimed that 25,000 people died last month and 32,000 the month before in the Russia–Ukraine war, statements that have not been independently verified. Independent analysts offer different tallies; CSIS has estimated Russia may have lost up to 450,000 soldiers since 2022, though such estimates are debated. Trump said he has urged President Zelenskyy to negotiate with Vladimir Putin and expressed hope for a deal before winter. Zelenskyy announced that the U.S. would permit Ukraine to obtain licenses to produce Patriot missile interceptors domestically.
Trump Cites Staggering Casualty Figures in Russia–Ukraine War, Urges Negotiations
President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2026.
President Donald Trump on Saturday told reporters that 25,000 people died last month and 32,000 the month before in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, figures he said were "mostly soldiers." He repeated the numbers on the White House South Lawn while urging both Kyiv and Moscow to seek a negotiated settlement.
"Last month, 25,000 people died in the Ukraine‑Russia war, OK? Twenty‑five thousand,"
"The month before that, 32,000 people died … mostly soldiers, 97% soldiers. But whether they're soldiers or civilians, think of it: 32,000. Two months ago, 33,000 people; this month, 25,000 people died. What a shame."
President Donald Trump greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House Aug. 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Those monthly casualty figures were presented by Trump as he described recent conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed hope that an agreement could be reached "maybe before the heavy winter." Trump said he has pressed Zelenskyy to pursue a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and claimed both leaders were "going along" toward a resolution.
Context and Independent Estimates
Independent analysts and open-source researchers report widely varying casualty estimates for the war. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has estimated that Russia alone may have lost as many as 450,000 soldiers since its 2022 invasion — a figure that represents one analytical estimate and is debated among experts. The specific monthly death tolls cited by Trump have not been independently verified and differ from many public tallies, which generally show lower confirmed monthly fatalities for combatants and civilians combined.
Diplomacy and Military Support
Trump said that U.S. envoys are active in efforts to push for talks; he mentioned that Jared Kushner and partner Witkoff were scheduled for talks in Kyiv following a meeting in Moscow as part of a U.S. push for a settlement.
"There are concrete agreements regarding Patriot licenses," Zelenskyy wrote.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Trump had agreed to authorize licenses enabling Ukraine to domestically produce U.S. Patriot missile interceptors. Zelenskyy posted that "there are concrete agreements regarding Patriot licenses," saying Trump had made a final decision to grant the licenses. The change marks a significant policy shift from earlier hesitancy in the administration to approve such production.
What remains clear: casualty figures for the conflict remain contested and difficult to verify; diplomatic efforts and weapons-licensing decisions are evolving and could affect the dynamics on the ground.
Fox News Digital contacted the White House for comment.
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