Trump tells Ukraine to give up on NATO and Crimea ahead of Zelenskyy meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Ukraine to abandon hopes of reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO as he prepares to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington on Monday. The meeting will focus on pushing Kyiv to accept a peace agreement with Russia.

After hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Trump is now pushing Ukraine to accept a deal that could end Europe's deadliest conflict in 80 years, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced.

Trump will first meet with Zelenskyy before engaging with European leaders from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, the EU, and NATO. These leaders are coming to Washington to show support for Ukraine and advocate for strong security guarantees in any post-war agreement.

President Trump's meetings will take place in the Oval Office at 1:15 p.m. EDT with Zelenskyy, followed by a gathering with European leaders in the East Room at 3 p.m. EDT. Zelenskyy, hoping to avoid tensions from a previous meeting with Trump in February, expressed his gratitude for the invitation, stating that both sides want to end the war swiftly. He reiterated that Russia must end the war it started, hoping that cooperation between Ukraine, the U.S., and European allies will push Russia toward peace.

Trump's team emphasised the need for compromises from both sides. However, Trump placed the responsibility on Zelenskyy to bring an end to the war that Russia started with its invasion in February 2022. His comments on NATO and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, signalled that he would press Zelenskyy hard at the meeting. Trump also stated that Zelenskyy could end the war "almost immediately" but also warned that Ukraine would not regain Crimea or join NATO under his plan.

Ukraine and its allies have long feared that Trump might press for an agreement favourable to Russia, though they have been encouraged by some of Trump's statements about providing post-settlement security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelenskyy, however, has already rejected much of Putin's proposals, including giving up control of part of the Donetsk region, and is seeking an immediate ceasefire to allow for more comprehensive peace talks. Trump had previously supported a ceasefire but reversed his stance after meeting with Putin, now backing Russia's preference for a deal while the fighting continues.

Meanwhile, overnight Russian missile and drone attacks hit Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, killing at least seven people, including two children.

On the battlefield, Russia continues to make slow advances, leveraging its military superiority. Putin has stated that he is prepared to fight until Russia achieves its objectives.

The proposed terms of peace outlined by Putin, which would require Ukraine to cede part of the Donetsk region, appear unacceptable to Zelenskyy, who sees the area as a vital defensive position. To avoid being sidelined in discussions, European leaders held a call with Zelenskyy to coordinate their approach for the meetings with Trump.

The summit has garnered significant attention, with media outlets such as the UK's 'Daily Mail' calling it a "D-Day at the White House," while Germany's 'Die Welt' referred to it as a "moment of truth" for Trump.

Despite a strained relationship between Kyiv and Washington since Trump’s return to office in January, Ukraine’s need for U.S. support, particularly in arms and intelligence, has led Zelenskyy and his allies to engage with Trump.

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