Trump Suggests Ukraine Can End War with Russia ‘Almost Immediately’ Ahead of White House Meeting
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can bring an end to the war with Russia “almost immediately” if he chooses to do so.
Trump made the comment on social media ahead of a high-stakes meeting between the two leaders at the White House, which is expected to focus on finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump also stated that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO, and hinted that the country may need to make territorial concessions to secure a peace deal.
This development comes after Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where the US President appeared to drop his demand for an immediate ceasefire and instead urged Kyiv to accept territorial concessions.
European Leaders to Accompany Zelenskyy to White House Meeting
A host of European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron, will accompany Zelenskyy to the White House meeting.
The presence of these leaders is expected to add weight to Ukraine’s position and provide a united front against Russian aggression.
Macron stated that the European leaders will be traveling to Washington to both support Zelenskyy and “defend European interests” at a “very serious” moment for the continent’s security.
The French President also outlined a two-pronged approach to providing security guarantees for Ukraine, which would involve bolstering the country’s military and deploying a Western “reassurance force” to act as a deterrent against renewed Russian attacks.
Ukraine Remains Firm on Territorial Integrity
Oleksandr Mrezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and chair of the body’s foreign affairs committee, has reiterated that territorial concessions are impossible for Ukraine.
Mrezhko stated that the country needs a ceasefire and security guarantees to prevent Putin from violating the ceasefire, and that NATO membership remains the most reliable and effective security guarantee for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine continued long-range attacks overnight into Monday, with Ukraine’s air force reporting that Russia launched 140 drones and four missiles into the country.
At least seven people, including a child, were killed when a Russian drone impacted an apartment complex in Kharkiv.