Washington, August 18 – US President Donald Trump has said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has the option to end the war with Russia almost immediately, but only if he agrees to conditions that include surrendering Crimea and abandoning Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.
Writing on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump stated that Zelensky could either choose to end the war swiftly or continue fighting. He added that Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, would not be returned as it might have been during the Obama era, and Ukraine would not be admitted to NATO.
Trump’s remarks come on the eve of a crucial White House meeting with Zelensky and a large delegation of European leaders. He has made it clear that Zelensky will need to accept certain Russian terms if the conflict is to be resolved. These conditions echo the demands made earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Alaska summit, which included recognition of Russia’s hold over Crimea and a guarantee that Ukraine would never join NATO.
European leaders, scheduled to accompany Zelensky to the White House on Monday, are concerned that Trump may pressure the Ukrainian president to accept Putin’s terms. They also seek clarity on what concessions Russia might make in a potential peace deal and what role the United States would play in guaranteeing Ukraine’s future security.
As per agency report, Trump underscored the significance of the upcoming meeting, writing that it would be a “big day at the White House,” noting that so many European leaders had never come together at once and that hosting them was an honour.
The delegation travelling with Zelensky 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.
