After a devastating Russian attack on Kiev, in which 13 civilians were killed, American President Donald Trump sent a strong message on his social network, demanding an immediate halt to the war:
„Vladimir, stop! 5,000 soldiers are dying every week. Let’s make a peace deal!”
This is one of Trump's most direct public interventions regarding the war in Ukraine since taking office. His comment comes at a time when the human toll of the conflict is rising, with no clear peace prospects in sight.
A Controversial Figure, Unsupported by Public Evidence
Trump's statement that "5,000 soldiers are dying every week" is not supported by official data and far exceeds public estimates of losses for both Russia and Ukraine, writes Kiev Independent.
With a lack of transparent statistics from both governments, the exact numbers remain uncertain. However, a former U.S. Secretary of Defense stated in January that Russia had suffered over 700,000 casualties, combining deaths and injuries.
On the other hand, Ukraine has been more reserved, with President Volodymyr Zelensky stating in February that over 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives, without including missing soldiers or unofficial data.
Actual Estimates Are Much Lower Than Those Invoked by Trump
According to sources cited by Wall Street Journal and New York Times, Ukraine's total losses could range between 70,000 and 80,000 soldiers killed, but these figures are disputed by Ukrainian authorities.
On the other hand, BBC Russia and Mediazona have identified over 100,000 dead Russian soldiers, estimating a real total between 158,000 and 229,000 casualties among Russian troops.
Even in the darkest scenarios, the weekly death toll does not come close to the 5,000 figure stated by Trump. The latest estimates suggest that under 2,000 soldiers are killed on average per week, on both sides.
Escalation in 2024: Russia Losing More Soldiers
Ukrainian Chief of Staff Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that nearly half of Russia's losses occurred in 2024.
Around the city of Pokrovsk, 7,000 Russian soldiers died in January 2025 alone, with another 8,000 injured, according to the military leader in Kiev.
Despite these significant losses, Russia benefits from a much larger military force and population, allowing it to continue the offensive despite the human costs.
A Call for Peace or Political Rhetoric?
Donald Trump's comment reiterates his desire to quickly end the war, but it comes in a context where facts and figures do not entirely support the alarmist message.
At the same time, experts warn that the lack of official transparency from both sides fuels confusion and speculation.
While Ukraine has announced consultations for signing significant economic agreements with the U.S., including in the mineral resources sector, Trump's public appeal seems to add pressure on international leaders to accelerate peace negotiations—even if a political agreement remains far off.