Former US President Donald Trump asserted on Truth Social that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky possesses the power to halt the conflict with Russia “almost immediately” if desired, or could alternatively choose to continue fighting. The statement came hours before Trump hosted Zelensky and European leaders in Washington. “Remember how it all started,” Trump wrote, referencing Crimea. “You can’t get Crimea back, given away by Obama 12 years ago without a shot fired, and Ukraine cannot enter NATO.”
Zelensky arrived in Washington for the meeting, announcing his arrival on X, where he expressed a shared “strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably,” emphasizing that “peace must be lasting.” He reiterated gratitude for US support but insisted, “Russia must end this war, which it itself started.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also landed in the US capital for the summit.
The summit schedule, outlined by the US administration, included a bilateral meeting between Trump and Zelensky at 1:15 PM local time, followed by Trump “greeting” European leaders at 2:15 PM. A group photo was slated for 2:30 PM, with the main meeting commencing at 3:00 PM. European leaders were expected at the White House by noon local time.
Tragically, a Russian drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv overnight killed at least three people, including “a small child,” and wounded 17 others, according to Mayor Igor Terekhov. Kharkiv, near the Russian border and Ukraine’s second-largest city before the invasion, had also been struck by ballistic missiles shortly before, injuring at least 11. The assault occurred just hours before the anticipated Trump-Zelensky meeting.
In his social media posts, Zelensky forcefully rejected any territorial concessions, stating Ukraine’s constitution makes ceding or exchanging land “impossible.” He stressed that territorial issues should only be discussed directly between Ukrainian and Russian leaders within a trilateral framework (Ukraine-Russia-US), a position supported by French President Emmanuel Macron, who suggested including Europe. Zelensky dismissed past arrangements involving Crimea and parts of Donbas as ineffective “launching pads” for renewed Russian aggression.
Trump also used Truth Social to counter reports labeling his recent Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin a “serious defeat,” claiming Putin had wanted the meeting anywhere *but* the US. Trump accused Democratic-aligned media of being “sick” and even “wanting crime in Washington.”
The Washington summit aimed to address the core issues of disputed territories and establishing ironclad guarantees to prevent a repeat of Russia’s 2022 invasion. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that “Ukraine must be able to maintain its territorial integrity.” The unprecedented European delegation, including von der Leyen, Macron, German Chancellor Friederich Merz, Meloni, Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, sought to avert a repeat of February’s perceived failure in the Oval Office and secure a peaceful future for Ukraine and Europe.
Following the Alaska talks, Trump’s public statements diminished, with only a brief weekend post about “great progress with Russia.” However, his advisors, Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio, revealed that Putin had agreed to provide “solid,” unprecedented security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe. Witkoff indicated these guarantees could resemble NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause, potentially offering an alternative to Ukrainian NATO membership, which Putin staunchly opposes. While Zelensky welcomed this development, he demanded specifics on implementation and roles for the US and Europe.
Regarding territory, Witkoff suggested Putin might offer concessions on “five regions,” potentially Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea, though details remained unclear. Rubio clarified that while a ceasefire discussed in Alaska remained “on the table,” the paramount goal was “peace, not a truce,” warning the war could otherwise persist. The US and Europe stand ready to impose further sanctions on Russia should hostilities continue.