US President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to give up its aspirations of joining NATO and reclaiming Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
He made the remarks on Monday (August 18) in Washington ahead of separate meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, Reuters reported.
Following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last Friday, Trump is now pressuring Kyiv to accept a peace deal aimed at ending what he described as Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. The war has already displaced millions and killed tens of thousands.
The White House said Trump will first meet Zelenskyy and then hold talks with leaders from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, the European Union, and NATO. The European leaders have gathered in Washington to push for stronger security guarantees for Ukraine.
On Sunday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Zelenskyy can choose to end the war almost immediately or keep fighting. But remember—Crimea was lost during Obama’s time without a single shot being fired, and NATO is not for Ukraine.”
Ukraine and its allies fear Trump may push for a Moscow-backed settlement. However, they took some reassurance from his indication that post-war security guarantees could still be provided to Ukraine.
Putin’s proposal reportedly requires Ukraine to surrender the remaining parts of the Donetsk region. Zelenskyy has already rejected the offer, demanding instead an immediate ceasefire followed by peace negotiations. But after his talks with Putin, Trump appeared to align more closely with Russia’s demands.
Arriving in Washington on Sunday night, Zelenskyy said: “We all want this war to end quickly and permanently. Russia started it, and Russia must end it. Together with the US and our European friends, we want to bring peace.”
Meanwhile, Russian missile strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, killed seven people, including two children. Residents reported that residential buildings were hit, leaving several families devastated.
European leaders voiced concern over being sidelined in the Putin-Trump talks, prompting them to coordinate directly with Zelenskyy. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said: “If we say the eyes of the whole world are on Washington right now, it would not be an exaggeration.”
Since Trump’s return to the White House in January, relations between Kyiv and Washington have faced growing strains. Still, Zelenskyy remains reliant on US military aid and intelligence support, forcing him to work with the Trump administration despite the tensions.
