Ahead of crucial talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a delegation of European leaders, President Donald Trump on August 18 revealed the message he will send to his White House guests. That is, Mr. Zelensky must accept some of Russia’s conditions to end the conflict in Ukraine.
“President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the conflict with Russia almost immediately if he wants, or he can choose to continue fighting,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media and said, “Remember how this conflict started. Not taking back Crimea that Obama lost (12 years ago, without a shot!) and NOT INTO NATO. Some things never change!!!”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump
The US leader’s message underscored the pressure Zelensky will face on Aug. 18 as Trump seeks to end the conflict. The two conditions Trump has set for Ukraine — relinquishing Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and pledging never to join NATO — are the same ones Vladimir Putin has set for ending the conflict.
European leaders who will join Zelensky at the White House on Aug. 18 are concerned that the meeting could turn into an event for Trump to pressure the Ukrainian leader to accept the terms Putin laid out at a summit in Alaska last week.
European and Ukrainian officials hope to learn more from Trump about what Russia might concede in a peace deal, including the role the United States will play in providing security guarantees later.
“Tomorrow is a big event at the White House. Never before have so many European leaders gathered together. It is a great honor for me to have them!!!”, Mr. Trump said after his message to President Zelensky.
The European delegation attending this meeting includes: French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.