Trump to Zelenskyy: Cede Crimea, drop NATO bid for peace with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with United States President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, where talks centered on efforts to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Ahead of the meeting, Trump declared that Ukraine must agree to some of Russia’s conditions including relinquishing Crimea and abandoning plans to join NATO as part of any peace settlement.

The talks, which also involved European leaders, came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled a willingness to consider security guarantees for Ukraine and potential “land swaps,” according to US envoy Steve Witkoff. Zelenskyy, however, insisted that such guarantees must be stronger than those that failed in the past.

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Speaking during the Oval Office meeting, Zelensky said Ukraine is open to finding a “diplomatic way” to end the war, reiterating his call for a trilateral summit with Washington and Moscow. He also thanked Trump for his “personal efforts” in pursuing peace.

Trump maintained that American support for Ukraine would continue regardless of the outcome of Monday’s talks, adding that Europe would play a leading role in securing peace. He did not rule out sending United States troops to Ukraine as part of any future security arrangement.

Both leaders expressed cautious optimism about a possible trilateral summit involving Putin, which Trump described as offering a “reasonable chance” of ending the war.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s latest strikes that left at least 10 people dead, saying the attacks underscored the urgent need for reliable security guarantees.