Russia-Ukraine War: On the eve of a high-stakes meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump suggested that Kyiv could end its war with Russia “almost immediately” but he has to give up Crimea and agree to never join NATO.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump stated, “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. Remember how it started. 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!!!”
Apparently, Ukraine’s NATO aspirations remain a red line for Moscow.
Trump–Putin talks
Trump’s remarks come just days after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Sources suggest the two leaders discussed proposals for freezing front lines, with Russia relinquishing limited areas of occupied land in exchange for Ukraine ceding fortified eastern territory.
While the outline hints at a potential deal, many of Putin’s demands remain politically toxic for Kyiv, raising the likelihood of difficult and protracted talks. More than a million people have been killed or wounded in what has become Europe’s deadliest conflict in eight decades.
European leaders rally behind Zelenskyy
European leaders are standing firmly behind Zelenskyy as he heads to Washington. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed they will accompany him on Monday, aiming to bolster Ukraine’s hand in negotiations.
Ahead of the visit, the three leaders convened a meeting of allies on Sunday to “shore up Zelenskyy’s position”, with particular emphasis on securing robust security guarantees for Kyiv. These guarantees, they argue, must include direct American involvement if they are to be credible.
“The talks will address, among other things, security guarantees, territorial issues, and continued support for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression,” the German government said in a statement. Macron, Merz and Starmer are expected to press Trump to include Ukraine directly in any peace framework, warning that bypassing Kyiv risks undermining legitimacy. They have also emphasised that sanctions on Russia must remain in force until concrete progress is made.
A virtual meeting of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” was hosted on Sunday by the three leaders, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joining separately with Zelenskyy in Brussels.
Ukraine pushes for trilateral meet
For his part, Zelenskyy has welcomed Washington’s willingness to join a framework of long-term guarantees for Ukraine’s security. In a post on X, he proposed a trilateral mechanism involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia as the only meaningful path to resolution.
“Security guarantees, as a result of our joint work, must really be very practical, delivering protection on land, in the air, and at sea, and must be developed with Europe’s participation,” Zelenskyy wrote.