US President Donald Trump, on the eve of key negotiations in Washington, sharply outlined his position on Ukraine, saying that Volodymyr Zelensky could end the war “almost instantly” if he wanted to. At the same time, the American leader ruled out Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the return of Crimea as part of any potential talks with Moscow.
Trump’s remarks were published on his Truth Social account on Sunday evening, just hours before the arrival of leaders from the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the European Union, and NATO at the White House. According to The Guardian, European diplomats have grown increasingly concerned that Trump might push Kyiv toward a settlement favorable to Moscow.
“President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. No getting back Obama-given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and no NATO membership for Ukraine. Some things never change!!!” Trump posted.
Shortly afterward, the US president added that it would be a “great honor” to host so many European leaders at once at the White House.
European Concerns and Memories of the Previous Meeting
In European capitals, there are growing fears of a repeat of the February visit, when Zelensky was publicly scolded in Washington. At that time, Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused him of “ingratitude and disrespect,” telling the Ukrainian leader: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.”
Kyiv’s Position: Hope in “Shared Strength”
Arriving in Washington late on Sunday, Zelensky expressed gratitude for the invitation and voiced hope that “the shared strength of Ukraine, the United States, and our European friends will compel Russia to peace.”
“I am grateful to the president of the United States for the invitation. We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably,” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel.
According to the White House schedule, Trump is set to meet Zelensky in the Oval Office at 1:15 p.m. EDT (20:15 Moscow time), followed by a gathering with European leaders in the East Room at 3 p.m. (22:00 Moscow time).
Echoes of the Alaska Summit and Moscow’s Position
Trump’s remarks also came in the wake of his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Many Western outlets described the summit as a diplomatic victory for the Kremlin and a humiliation for the US president. Trump, however, insisted that he had achieved “big progress” on Russia, though he gave no specifics.
Meanwhile, Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, stated on Monday that any future peace deal must provide “security guarantees” for Kyiv, but that Moscow “has equal right to expect effective guarantees for itself.”
Europe’s Red Lines and London’s Careful Praise
According to The Guardian, European leaders plan to once again reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and oppose any “land swap” arrangements that would reward Russian aggression.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a conciliatory yet firm statement before departing for Washington, praised Trump for his “efforts to end Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.” At the same time, he underlined that the “path to peace” could not be determined without Zelensky’s participation, and stressed that Russia must continue to be “squeezed” with further sanctions.
A Possible Compromise: Security Guarantees Outside NATO
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told CNN that for the first time, Putin had agreed to let the US and Europe provide Ukraine with security guarantees as part of a potential settlement. According to him, this framework would not be under NATO, but it would be equivalent to Article 5 of the Alliance’s treaty on collective defense.
European diplomats see this as a potential compromise, under which Ukraine could receive security guarantees but remain outside NATO, while Moscow, in return, would expect sanctions relief and de facto recognition of the current status quo in the occupied territories.
This article was prepared based on materials published by The Guardian. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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