President Donald Trump has issued an extraordinary rebuke of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling him he can ‘end the war with Russia.’
Trump categorically ruled out Zelenskyy’s hope to see Ukraine join NATO and indicated he has no desire to see Crimea returned to Ukrainian rule.
His shock position comes just hours ahead of his scheduled meeting with Zelenskyy in Washington on Monday.
‘President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday night.
‘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!!!’
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Finland are rallying around the Ukrainian president and will join him in Washington for the highly anticipated meeting on Monday amid fears he is walking into a trap.
Their pledge to be at Zelenskyy’s side is an apparent effort to ensure the meeting goes better than the last one in February, when Trump berated Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office encounter.
At the time, the Ukrainian leader was asked to leave the White House by top Trump advisors following the heated confrontation.
‘You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,’ Trump told Zelenskyy.
Vice President JD Vance chimed in, demanding that Zelenskyy show gratitude—asking, ‘Have you said ‘thank you’ once?’
‘The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr. Zelenskyy to the hilt,’ said retired French General Dominique Trinquand.
‘It’s a power struggle and a position of strength that might work with Trump.’
Trump appeared unfazed by the EU leaders’ decision to join Zelenskyy to send him a message, writing on Truth Social on Sunday night: ‘Big day at the White House tomorrow.
‘Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!!’
He added: ‘The Fake News will say that it is a big loss for President Trump to host so many great European Leaders at our beautiful White House. Actually, it is a great honor for America!!!’
Neil Melvin, director of international security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, said European leaders are trying to ‘shape this fast-evolving agenda.’
The meeting comes days after Trump met with Putin for a two-and-a-half hour discussion in Alaska about the ongoing conflict.
Afterwards, Trump admitted he and Putin could not strike a deal on the crisis, but insisted: ‘We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to.
‘We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.’
After the Alaska summit, the idea of a ceasefire appears all-but-abandoned, with the narrative shifting toward Putin’s agenda of ensuring Ukraine does not join NATO or even the EU.
Zelenskyy earlier pushed back against Trump’s assertion — which aligned with Putin’s preference — that the two sides should negotiate a complete end to the war, rather than first securing a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy said a ceasefire would provide breathing room to review Putin’s demands.
‘It’s impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons,’ he said. ‘Putin does not want to stop the killing, but he must do it.’