Zelenskyy in Washington, as Trump reiterates hard line on Crimea, NATO
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington, where he is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders, he announced on social media.
On August 18, Zelenskyy will first meet with Trump and then with European leaders. He thanked his American counterpart for the invitation.
“We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And 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. Or when Ukraine was given so called “security guarantees” in 1994, but they didn't work,” Zelenskyy stated.
He noted that Ukrainian forces are currently achieving successes in Donetsk and Sumy oblasts, expressing confidence in protecting Ukraine and ensuring effective security. Zelenskyy voiced hope that, together with the U.S. and European partners, Russia will be compelled to achieve “real peace.”
Meanwhile, Trump stated that Zelenskyy could “end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to” or continue fighting.
“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 U.S. leader said.
Before his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump had assured that Ukraine would decide for itself whether to agree to any territorial concessions to Russia.
However, the day before, Trump posted on social media that Ukraine “must be willing to lose some territory to Russia” to end the war.
Trump-Putin meeting
On August 15, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Anchorage, Alaska, at the U.S. military base Elmendorf-Richardson.
The closed-door meeting, held in a “three-on-three” format, lasted nearly three hours. Both leaders described the talks as “constructive,” though no specific outcomes were disclosed.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, later said that Putin and Trump agreed on “reliable security guarantees” for Ukraine, including protections similar to NATO’s Article 5. Additionally, Witkoff noted that Putin made “some concessions” regarding five Ukrainian regions.
On August 18, Zelenskyy plans to meet with Trump in Washington to discuss “all details about ending the killings, about ending the war.”
The White House meeting will also include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- Share: