U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked global debate after calling on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to relinquish Ukraine’s claim to Crimea and abandon its NATO membership ambitions as conditions for ending the ongoing war with Russia.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that Zelensky “can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to,” but only if Ukraine accepts that “Crimea will not return” and “Ukraine will not enter NATO.” He added: “Some things never change.”
The remarks came on the eve of a high-level summit at the White House, where Zelensky is meeting European leaders including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The talks are expected to focus on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine rather than concessions to Moscow.
President Zelensky dismissed Trump’s demands, insisting that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable. He stressed that true peace must be durable and not based on sacrificing national dignity or rewarding Russian aggression.
“Peace cannot come at the price of giving away our land or our future,” Zelensky said ahead of the summit.
European leaders echoed Zelensky’s stance, warning that concessions on Crimea or NATO would set a dangerous precedent. They pledged continued support for Ukraine’s defense, framing the conflict as a test of Europe’s security architecture and resistance to authoritarian expansion.
Meanwhile, Russian forces escalated attacks across Ukraine. Recent missile and drone strikes on Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia left multiple casualties, underscoring the urgent stakes of the conflict as diplomatic talks unfold in Washington.
Trump’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions. Critics argue his stance risks legitimizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and undermining NATO’s credibility. Supporters, however, claim it reflects a pragmatic approach to ending the costly war.
As the summit proceeds, the question remains: will Trump’s proposal gain traction, or will Ukraine and its allies double down on their refusal to negotiate away sovereignty?