Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump during a NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, in June 2025. Ahead of upcoming talks in Washington on Monday, Trump made it clear that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO or regain control of Crimea. (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump placed new pressure on Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of critical meetings in Washington. Trump said Zelenskyy could “end the war almost immediately” if he wished. He also ruled out Ukraine joining NATO or reclaiming Crimea from Russia, setting strict conditions before talks with European leaders.
On Sunday night, Trump posted his remarks on his Truth Social platform. Hours later, he was set to host European leaders, including Britain’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and Zelenskyy himself. The gathering comes as Europe fears Ukraine may be pushed into conceding territory to Russia.
Trump’s Online Comments
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump wrote. He added that Ukraine would not regain Crimea and would not join NATO.
Moments later, Trump said it was a “great honour” to welcome so many leaders at the White House at once.
European Concerns Rise
European diplomats worry about a repeat of Zelenskyy’s difficult visit in February. Then, Trump and Vice-President JD Vance told Zelenskyy he lacked leverage and accused him of disrespect. This time, Europe hopes to shield Ukraine from similar treatment and strengthen support for Kyiv’s territorial integrity.
Arriving in Washington late Sunday, Zelenskyy said he trusted in the “shared strength” of Ukraine, the US, and Europe. He expressed gratitude to Trump for the invitation and said the joint effort could push Russia toward peace.
Fallout From Alaska Summit
Zelenskyy’s visit follows Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Observers widely saw that summit as a win for Putin. Trump defended the encounter, calling it “a great meeting” and claiming “big progress” on Russia without giving details.
European leaders plan to reject any idea of Ukraine giving up land. They will also seek clarity on what kind of security guarantees the US is willing to provide Kyiv if a deal is reached.
Russia’s Response
Russia’s envoy in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said Moscow expects any peace deal to include security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia. His comments highlight the difficulty of crafting a settlement acceptable to all sides.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Trump for his efforts to end the war but stressed that peace must involve Zelenskyy directly. Starmer called for stronger sanctions on Russia and warned against rewarding aggression.
Possible Security Deal
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told reporters that Putin had, for the first time, agreed to allow US and European nations to provide Ukraine with protection. Witkoff said this would not involve NATO but would mirror the alliance’s defence commitments under Article 5.
