‘No going into NATO’: Trump to Zelenskyy ahead of meeting in Washington

“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. Remember how it started,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The US president also cited the annexation of Crimea by Russia during former US President Barack Obama’s tenure in 2014, without military resistance.

“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,” he added.

Trump has been pressing Ukraine for a quick peace deal and an end to Europe’s deadliest war in 80 years, after concluding his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week.

He also put out a post citing “big progress on Russia”, without specifying what it might be.

Zelenskyy hopes ‘shared strength’ with US, Europe will compel Russia to peace

Zelenskyy said that he hopes Ukraine’s “shared strength” with his US and European counterparts will “compel Russia to real peace”.

“I am grateful to the President of the United States for the invitation. We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably,” Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app after arriving in Washington late on Sunday, according to Reuters.

“And I hope that our shared strength with America and with our European friends will compel Russia to real peace,” he added.

Trump to host Zelensky and European leaders in Washington

The US president is set to host Zelenskyy and the European leaders backing the Ukrainian president in Washington on Monday (Aug 18).

“Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!!” he said on Truth Social.

The stream of leaders joining the discussion in Washington include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, EU chief von der Leyen and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.

Von der Leyen, on Sunday, said that “at the request of President Zelenskyy, I will join the meeting with President Trump and other European leaders in the White House tomorrow.”

The move highlights the leaders’ determination to ensure that Europe has a voice in Trump’s attempts at peace-making, following the US president’s summit on Friday with Putin, where Zelenskyy was not invited.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News, “If peace is not going to be possible here and this is just going to continue on as a war, people will continue to die by the thousands…we may unfortunately wind up there, but we don’t want to wind up there,” underscoring the significance of the peace deal.

(With inputs from agencies)