Ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump stated that Kyiv could “end the war with Russia almost immediately” on the condition that it drop its aspirations to join NATO and relinquish the challenge to reclaim Crimea.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump wrote on TruthSocial, just days after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He added, “No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”
His statement came hours before a White House meeting with Zelenskyy and key European leaders—UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Friedrich Merz. Shortly after his post, Trump also wrote that it would be a “great honour” to host so many European leaders at the same time.
European Alarm Over Trump’s Remarks
Trump’s comments have unsettled European diplomats, who want to avoid a repeat of February’s episode when Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington ended in public humiliation. At that time, both Trump and US Vice President JD Vance accused Ukrainian leaders of being ungrateful and warned, “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.”
This meeting is seen as crucial for Zelenskyy, who is under growing pressure to rebuild Ukraine’s standing after the Alaska Summit. That gathering, which followed Trump’s engagement with Putin, was widely considered a diplomatic win for Moscow and a setback for Washington, despite Trump’s insistence that it was a “great meeting.”
Trump Defends His Talks With Putin
Even as criticism mounted, Trump defended his outreach to the Kremlin. On Sunday, he insisted he had made “big progress” in discussions with Putin, though he did not provide details. He also accused the media of twisting the outcome of the Alaska Summit, saying the coverage misrepresented his position and ignored his achievements.
Focus on Security Guarantees
The upcoming White House talks are expected to focus heavily on the question of security guarantees for Ukraine in any potential settlement. European leaders want clarity on how far Washington is prepared to go in backing Kyiv if peace negotiations move forward.
Russia, too, has taken a stand on this issue. Mikhail Ulyanov, Moscow’s envoy to international organisations in Vienna, said on Monday that Russia accepts the idea of providing Kyiv with security assurances in a peace agreement. However, he added that Moscow “has equal right to expect that Moscow will also get efficient security guarantees.”
