President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could end the war with Russia “almost immediately” if Kyiv were willing to make two major concessions: abandoning its long-standing aspiration to join NATO and accepting Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea as irreversible.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump wrote in a late-night Truth Social post. “Remember how it started. No getting back Obama-given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”
The statement came just one day before Zelensky was scheduled to meet Trump at the White House, alongside several European leaders, for a high-level summit on the war that has stretched for more than three years. Trump teased the gathering in a separate post, calling it a “big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!!”
For his part, Zelensky arrived in Washington on Sunday evening and made clear that he was seeking durable peace rather than a temporary compromise. Posting to X, the Ukrainian leader thanked the United States for its continued support and expressed optimism about the talks. “I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably,” he wrote.
Zelensky also underscored his refusal to accept Russia’s claims on Crimea, noting that the territory’s loss in 2014 only emboldened Vladimir Putin to launch a wider invasion years later. “Peace must be lasting. Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East, part of Donbas, and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack,” he said. He emphasized that Ukrainians are defending their independence and that giving up land now would only set the stage for further aggression.
Trump’s comments mirrored recent remarks by Russian officials, who have insisted Ukraine must cede territory as part of any peace deal. During a summit in Alaska on Friday, Putin reportedly demanded Ukraine surrender the remaining portion of Donetsk still under Kyiv’s control, though he expressed willingness to freeze fighting in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, according to Axios. Zelensky dismissed that proposal, suggesting instead that negotiations could only begin along current front lines.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on CBS News’ Face the Nation, suggested both sides would likely have to make painful compromises to achieve peace. “What it’s going to take to stop the fighting, if we’re being honest and serious here, is both sides are going to have to give,” Rubio said, while acknowledging Ukraine had been “harmed, and rightfully so, because they were invaded.”
Despite ongoing speculation, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine’s Constitution makes it impossible to legally give up territory. As the war continues to grind on in Donetsk and Sumy, he expressed confidence that Ukraine’s defenses will hold and stressed that any settlement must ensure lasting security.