Donald Trump has claimed that the Ukrainian president can bring an end to Russia’s war if he chooses to, though as part of a peace agreement, Ukraine would have to forgo NATO membership. Before a planned meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Trump emphasized that Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, would not be reclaimed. These comments came after Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where the US withdrew its ceasefire demand, advocating instead for a permanent peace settlement. Zelensky, upon arriving in the US, reiterated the need for secure guarantees from allies. A US envoy disclosed that Putin is open to a NATO-like security deal for Ukraine, though he’s opposed to the country joining the alliance. Trump suggested on Truth Social that Zelensky could end the conflict with Russia or continue fighting. He highlighted the situation with Crimea and reinforced the stance against Ukraine joining NATO. The NATO countries had previously set Ukraine on a path to membership. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and other European leaders will meet with Zelensky in Washington to discuss Ukraine’s future. Trump expressed his honor in hosting numerous European leaders. Zelensky expressed gratitude for Trump’s invitation and emphasized the shared goal of a swift and dependable end to the war, with effective security assurances. Diplomatic sources indicate concerns about Trump pressuring Zelensky into a deal, as the Ukrainian leader wasn’t part of the Trump-Putin dialogue. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refuted claims that Zelensky could be coerced. European leaders aim to avoid a repeat of Zelensky’s previous tense engagement with Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance. Efforts have been underway to repair relations, with Ukraine expressing readiness to engage in deal-making. In April, Ukraine and the US signed a minerals agreement, and Trump and Zelensky met privately. Their July phone call was described by Zelensky as highly productive. Trump has grown frustrated with Russia’s actions and has taken a tougher stance. Despite ongoing discussions, Russian advances continue, and they now control a significant portion of Ukraine since the 2022 invasion. In a virtual summit, Zelensky and allied leaders discussed presenting a united front in talks with Trump. US envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned significant security guarantees possibly in place for Ukraine, akin to NATO Article 5, which Russia has long opposed. Zelensky stressed territorial issues should be resolved in a trilateral summit with Ukraine, the US, and Russia. Despite hopes, US Secretary of State Rubio cautioned that a peace deal remains distant.
