News Brief
Trump Presses Ukraine To End War By Dropping NATO Bid, Ceding Crimea; Zelensky Vows To Keep Fighting
US President Donald Trump (Leon Neal/GettyImages)
US President Donald Trump has reignited debate over Ukraine’s future by asserting that President Volodymyr Zelensky could “end the war with Russia almost immediately” if he chose, so long as Kyiv abandoned its NATO ambitions and accepted the loss of Crimea.
In a strongly worded post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”
The comments came shortly after Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which he described as “extremely productive” though no breakthrough was announced.
He later held a “lengthy call” with Zelensky en route to Washington, before NATO leaders were briefed on the discussions.
Posting on X, he said, “I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting.”
The Ukrainian leader stressed that Crimea “should not have been given up” and pledged that his forces would continue to defend their territory. He added, “Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence.”
Trump and Zelensky will meet at the White House on Monday (18 August) afternoon before being joined by European leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to discuss potential security guarantees and the path towards peace talks.
