President has instructed Ukrainian President to abandon the notions of Ukraine recovering Crimea and becoming a NATO member.
“Ukrainian President Zelensky can bring an almost immediate end to the war with Russia, should he choose to, or he can persist in fighting,” Trump conveyed on Truth Social Sunday evening, asserting that Crimea was “irretrievable” and NATO entry for Ukraine was “impossible.”
Trump, whose current aim is to secure a peace agreement rather than a ceasefire to conclude the Russia-Ukraine conflict (which began when), offered this guidance prior to his scheduled meeting with Zelensky and prominent European leaders at the White House on Monday.
Ukraine’s aspiration for NATO membership has been well-established and represents a significant point of disagreement for Russia. During the annual in early June, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated: “NATO has no involvement in Ukraine. Ukraine is not a NATO member, nor is Russia; my responsibility is to maintain the current status.”
NATO has upheld its position regarding this issue.
“Ukraine is not a member of NATO. Ukraine is a NATO partner nation, signifying its close collaboration with NATO, though it is not protected by the security guarantee outlined in the Alliance’s foundational treaty,” , clarifying that “NATO unequivocally condemns Russia’s savage and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.”
In the interim, Crimea has been under since 2014, when gained control of the territory. Russia initially disavowed direct participation in the takeover.
Trump’s remarks on Sunday evening followed his Friday journey to Alaska for what he termed a “” summit with Putin.
The summit, which marked the initial face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin, aimed to facilitate discussions on a route towards a possible ceasefire, yet it concluded prematurely without any agreement being finalized. Both Trump and Putin spoke only briefly to journalists afterward, and neither fielded any inquiries.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Trump characterized the discussion as “exceptionally fruitful” and has subsequently criticized what he labels “fake news,” maintaining he had a “” with Putin.
Explaining his rationale, Trump stated: “It was unanimously agreed that the most effective approach to concluding the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine is to proceed directly to a peace accord, which would terminate the conflict, rather than a simple ceasefire agreement, which frequently proves unsustainable.”
Trump’s late-night comments on Sunday, along with his public guidance to Zelensky concerning his perspective on ending the war, align with his prior statements.
In April, Trump indicated that Crimea (which he has consistently described as being “handed over” by Barack Obama, who served as President during Russia’s annexation of Crimea) would stay under Russian governance when questioned about a pathway to peace in Ukraine.
“Will they [Ukraine] succeed in regaining it? They’ve had their Russians. They’ve maintained their submarines there for a considerable time before any period we’re discussing, for many years. The populace in Crimea predominantly speaks Russian,” the U.S. President remarked.
During the identical interview, Trump also articulated his belief that Ukraine had no future in NATO.
“I do not believe they will ever be able to enter NATO. I think that has been—from the very beginning, I think that has been, that is what I believe triggered the war when discussions about joining NATO commenced,” he affirmed.
Furthermore, Trump has previously asserted that a durable ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict could probably only be achieved through the territorial exchange “for the mutual benefit.” Zelensky and his European partners have firmly rejected this concept, with Zelensky declaring that Ukraine will not “cede their territory to the occupier.”
Zelensky, who famously had disputes with Trump during, will this time be fortified by the presence and backing of upon his return to the White House on Monday.
Those slated to be present include U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Additionally, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, are expected to attend the peace discussions in Washington, D.C.
Moreover, Zelensky’s European counterparts are resolute in their conviction that “pressure” on Russia can be intensified going forward.
“We are indeed prepared to escalate pressure on Russia, particularly on its economy, with sanctions and broader actions as deemed necessary,” Starmer stated last week. “It is crucial that we all persist in collaborating with Presidents Trump and Zelensky to achieve a just and enduring peace in Ukraine.”