Washington : US President Donald Trump has said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could end the war with Russia “almost immediately” if he accepts certain conditions set by Moscow. The statement, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, came just hours before a crucial White House meeting with Zelensky and a high-level European delegation.
Trump listed two non-negotiable points: Ukraine must cede Crimea to Russia — annexed illegally in 2014 — and must pledge never to join NATO. These are the same demands Russian President Vladimir Putin raised during his Alaska summit with Trump last week.
The remarks put fresh pressure on Zelensky as he arrives in Washington alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
European leaders fear the White House talks may translate into Trump urging Ukraine to accept Putin’s terms. Macron has already dismissed Moscow’s stance as a call for “capitulation,” stressing Europe’s united support for Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff hinted that the US is preparing “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine if a peace deal is reached. Zelensky welcomed the American offer as “historic,” but firmly rejected Moscow’s assurances, saying only Washington’s commitments matter.
Reports suggest Russia wants full control of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, while freezing the frontline in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. European leaders, however, remain wary that territorial concessions could embolden Moscow.
As battles continue, Ukraine reported new Russian strikes on Kharkiv and Sumy, wounding at least 13 people. Despite ongoing violence, Trump insisted “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!”
The coming White House meeting is being billed as a turning point, with the so-called “coalition of the willing” seeking clarity on whether Trump’s peace push means Ukraine faces unprecedented pressure to give in to Russia’s demands.
