United States President, Donald Trump, has stated that reclaiming Crimea or joining NATO are off the table for Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington on Monday for discussions aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia.
Zelensky, who has consistently opposed territorial concessions, will meet Trump one-on-one before joining European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and other European leaders for broader talks.
The Washington meeting follows a summit in Alaska on Friday between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
That meeting did not achieve a ceasefire, but both leaders promised to provide “robust security guarantees” to Ukraine. Zelensky was not invited to the Alaska summit.
Afterwards, Trump reiterated Russia’s long-standing position that a ceasefire is not necessary before a final peace agreement.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump posted on his social media platform. “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 White House confirmed that the U.S. leader will meet Zelensky individually before a larger meeting with European leaders, including von der Leyen, NATO chief Mark Rutte, and the heads of Britain, Finland, France, Germany, and Italy.
This marks Zelensky’s first visit to Washington since a tense February encounter with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, where the Ukrainian leader was criticized for being “ungrateful.” Upon his arrival in Washington, Zelensky said: “We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably.”
Security Guarantees
Since the Oval Office confrontation in February, Trump has become more critical of Putin, expressing frustration over Russia’s repeated delays in peace negotiations.
However, the U.S. has not imposed additional sanctions on Moscow. The warm reception offered to Putin in Alaska, his first visit to the West since invading Ukraine in 2022, was widely seen as a diplomatic victory for Russia.
Speaking from Brussels ahead of his U.S. visit, Zelensky expressed interest in the discussions between Putin and Trump in Alaska. He also praised Washington’s offer of security guarantees as “historic.”
Trump indicated he discussed the possibility of a NATO-style collective defense guarantee for Ukraine, which would operate outside the formal Western military alliance that Ukraine seeks but which Russia views as an existential threat.
French President Emmanuel Macron said European leaders would ask Trump “to what extent” the U.S. is willing to contribute to Ukraine’s security guarantees.
Talks on Territory
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, revealed that Moscow has made “some concessions” regarding five Ukrainian regions under full or partial Russian control.
“There is an important discussion with regard to Donetsk and what would happen there. That discussion is going to specifically be detailed on Monday,” he said, without elaborating further.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 following a controversial referendum, and in 2022 claimed four more Ukrainian regions, Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, and Zaporizhzhia, though it does not fully control them.
A source familiar with a recent call between Trump and European leaders said the U.S. president is “inclined to support” a Russian request for territory it has not yet seized in the Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Lugansk.
In return, Russia would allegedly agree to “freeze” frontlines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces occupy significant areas but not the regional capitals. Russia has previously demanded that Ukraine withdraw from all four regions before any deal.
Concerns of Capitulation
European leaders worry that Washington might pressure Ukraine to accept Russian terms. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Sunday, “For peace to prevail, pressure must be applied to the aggressor, not the victim of aggression.” Macron added, “There is only one state proposing a peace that would be a capitulation: Russia.”
Zelensky has repeatedly rejected giving up territory but said he is willing to discuss the matter within a trilateral summit with Trump and Putin. While Trump has suggested such a meeting, Moscow has downplayed the possibility.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to make slow but steady advances, especially in Donetsk. Recent attacks on Kharkiv killed three and wounded dozens, while an overnight assault near the Sumy border left two injured, according to Ukrainian authorities.