Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set for a critical round of talks in Washington with US President Donald Trump, amid fresh controversy over Trump’s demand that Kyiv abandon its NATO aspirations and relinquish Crimea in order to end the war with Russia.
Trump’s remarks, posted on Truth Social, sparked immediate backlash from Kyiv and European capitals. “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to… NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE,” Trump wrote.
The meeting at the White House on Monday, August 18, is expected to draw the participation—or at least coordinated backing—of key European leaders, including those from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Finland. Their pledge of support for Zelenskyy comes after he was excluded from Trump’s recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Observers say the display of solidarity is designed to prevent a repeat of February’s tense Oval Office encounter, when Trump publicly berated Zelenskyy.
“The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr. Zelenskyy to the hilt,” AP quoted retired French General Dominique Trinquand, a former UN envoy, as saying.
Adding to the intrigue, Putin has for the first time signalled openness to a proposal in which the US and its European allies would provide Ukraine with NATO-like security guarantees to end the 3.5-year conflict. While the offer is being read as a potential opening for a truce, it also raises questions over whether Kyiv would be forced into concessions on NATO membership and Crimea—conditions Zelenskyy has consistently rejected.
With Zelenskyy insisting on a “quick and reliable” peace and Trump pushing for concessions, the summit will test both Western unity and Ukraine’s ability to resist an imposed settlement.
