Donald Trump has openly set conditions for Ukraine to make peace with Russia: no joining NATO, and no reclaiming Crimea. Writing on Truth Social, he said Ukraine “can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to,” before declaring: “No getting back Obama-given Crimea, and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE.”
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014. Trump’s claim that it happened “without a shot being fired” ignores the fact that Ukrainian troops were killed during the takeover.
The post followed Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where Moscow reportedly presented proposals for ending the conflict.
High-stakes talks in Washington
Zelensky landed in Washington late Sunday ahead of talks with Trump and a raft of European leaders including Britain’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
The White House said the meetings will begin on Monday afternoon. Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul put it starkly: “It is probably not an exaggeration to say the whole world is looking to Washington.”
Zelensky pushes back
On arrival, Zelensky wrote: “Russia must end this war — the war it started. We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably. And I hope that our shared strength with America and our European friends will compel Russia to real peace.”
He rejected Moscow’s demand that Ukraine give up the rest of Donetsk, where his forces still hold a quarter of the territory. Ukraine’s constitution blocks any ceding of land, making Trump’s suggested concessions politically impossible in Kyiv.
Russian strikes kill civilians
While diplomacy gathers pace, Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities. In Kharkiv, at least seven people, including two children, died after a drone strike destroyed an apartment block. “They hit an ordinary apartment block… many families were living here,” said resident Olena Yakusheva.
In Zaporizhzhia, three more civilians were killed. Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted more than 140 drones and several missiles overnight. Zelensky called it a “demonstrative and cynical Russian strike.”
Europe eyes security guarantees
European leaders held a call with Zelensky on Sunday to coordinate ahead of Washington. Macron said their aim was to “present a united front.”
US envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that Putin had agreed in principle to “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, likening them to NATO’s Article 5 pledge, but outside the alliance itself. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was more cautious: “We’re still a long ways off.”
Tense US–Ukraine relationship
Relations between Trump and Zelensky have been strained since Trump’s return to the White House. Their first Oval Office meeting ended abruptly in February, with Trump accusing Zelensky of “gambling with World War Three.”
Still, Ukraine depends heavily on US weapons and intelligence. An April deal gave Washington a financial stake in Ukrainian minerals in exchange for military support. By July, both leaders had what Zelensky described as their “best conversation yet.”
From the Alaska summit, reports suggest Russia is willing to discuss prisoner swaps and limited concessions. But Putin still insists on control over Donetsk and Luhansk. Russian forces currently occupy nearly one-fifth of Ukraine, and offensives are ongoing.
Despite battlefield pressure and Trump’s demands, Zelensky insists peace must come from Russia halting its war — not Ukraine surrendering its sovereignty.
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014. Trump’s claim that it happened “without a shot being fired” ignores the fact that Ukrainian troops were killed during the takeover.
The post followed Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where Moscow reportedly presented proposals for ending the conflict.
High-stakes talks in Washington
Zelensky landed in Washington late Sunday ahead of talks with Trump and a raft of European leaders including Britain’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
The White House said the meetings will begin on Monday afternoon. Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul put it starkly: “It is probably not an exaggeration to say the whole world is looking to Washington.”
Zelensky pushes back
On arrival, Zelensky wrote: “Russia must end this war — the war it started. We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably. And I hope that our shared strength with America and our European friends will compel Russia to real peace.”
He rejected Moscow’s demand that Ukraine give up the rest of Donetsk, where his forces still hold a quarter of the territory. Ukraine’s constitution blocks any ceding of land, making Trump’s suggested concessions politically impossible in Kyiv.
Russian strikes kill civilians
While diplomacy gathers pace, Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities. In Kharkiv, at least seven people, including two children, died after a drone strike destroyed an apartment block. “They hit an ordinary apartment block… many families were living here,” said resident Olena Yakusheva.
In Zaporizhzhia, three more civilians were killed. Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted more than 140 drones and several missiles overnight. Zelensky called it a “demonstrative and cynical Russian strike.”
Europe eyes security guarantees
European leaders held a call with Zelensky on Sunday to coordinate ahead of Washington. Macron said their aim was to “present a united front.”
US envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that Putin had agreed in principle to “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine, likening them to NATO’s Article 5 pledge, but outside the alliance itself. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was more cautious: “We’re still a long ways off.”
Tense US–Ukraine relationship
Relations between Trump and Zelensky have been strained since Trump’s return to the White House. Their first Oval Office meeting ended abruptly in February, with Trump accusing Zelensky of “gambling with World War Three.”
Still, Ukraine depends heavily on US weapons and intelligence. An April deal gave Washington a financial stake in Ukrainian minerals in exchange for military support. By July, both leaders had what Zelensky described as their “best conversation yet.”
From the Alaska summit, reports suggest Russia is willing to discuss prisoner swaps and limited concessions. But Putin still insists on control over Donetsk and Luhansk. Russian forces currently occupy nearly one-fifth of Ukraine, and offensives are ongoing.
Despite battlefield pressure and Trump’s demands, Zelensky insists peace must come from Russia halting its war — not Ukraine surrendering its sovereignty.
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