US President Donald Trump has asserted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could end the war with Russia ‘almost immediately’ if he accepts certain conditions.
“President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday.
He referred specifically to Ukraine relinquishing claims over Crimea and pledging never to join NATO.
The remarks came on the eve of Zelensky’s high-stakes visit to Washington, where he will meet Trump alongside a delegation of senior European leaders.
Observers note that Trump is expected to push Zelensky towards concessions aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demands, notably Ukraine’s recognition of Crimea and abandonment of NATO ambitions.
European capitals are concerned that the White House meeting could see Trump pressuring Zelensky into accepting terms largely dictated by Moscow.
Leaders are keen to learn what security guarantees the US might offer Ukraine as part of any prospective peace arrangement.
High-Level Delegation in Washington
The visiting delegation includes 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, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Trump described Monday’s meeting as ‘a big day at the White House’, calling it a great honour to host so many European leaders at once.
Trump met Putin in Alaska last week, but the talks failed to deliver a ceasefire.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff later claimed that both sides agreed on offering robust security guarantees to Ukraine. Zelensky, however, dismissed Russian guarantees outright, insisting that only US commitments could be trusted.
European leaders remain sceptical of Moscow’s sincerity. Macron warned that Russia’s proposals amounted to capitulation demands, a claim rejected by Moscow’s Foreign Ministry as an abject lie.
Reports suggest that Trump indicated support for a Russian plan under which Ukraine would cede full control of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in exchange for halting offensives in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Russia has claimed annexation of all four regions since 2022, despite lacking full control.
European leaders have privately expressed unease over Trump’s readiness to align with Putin’s terms. Nonetheless, the US administration maintains that its proposed security guarantees could be game-changing for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, hostilities continue in Ukraine.
Authorities reported on Monday that Russian strikes injured 13 people in Kharkiv and the Sumy region. Both sides remain locked in drone warfare, underscoring the gulf between diplomatic negotiations and battlefield realities.
Also Read: Russia To Launch ‘Venera-D’ Mission; All Set To Revisit Venus Before 2036
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
