Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have already rejected President Donald Trump‘s terms for a peace plan with Russia as the two leaders prepare for an Oval Office showdown.
Trump on Sunday demanded Zelensky sacrifice Crimea and give up his desire to join NATO in advance of Monday’s blockbuster meeting in the White House. Zelensky will return to The White House for the first time since their famous bust-up in February.
Trump sensationally claimed Zelensky could ‘end the war with Russia almost immediately’ – a statement which the Ukrainian leader rebuked within 90 minutes.
‘President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social about 9.20pm on Sunday.
‘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!!!’
At 10.40pm, Zelensky took to X to insist ‘Russia must end this war, which it itself started’, railing against Trump’s suggestion that he could solely choose to bring peace for his people.
‘Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence. Now, our soldiers have successes in Donetsk and Sumy regions,’ he wrote.
Zelensky also indicated he will split with Trump over Crimea, territory which Russia annexed in 2014 and has been furiously defending during the three-year war.
President Donald Trump has issued an extraordinary rebuke of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, telling him he can ‘end the war with Russia’
It is feared Zelensky could be strong-armed by the President on Monday into accepting these terms or risk losing American support. Pictured: Zelensky and President Trump meet at the Oval Office in February
‘We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting,’ Zelensky wrote.
‘Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East – part of Donbas – and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack.
‘Of course, Crimea should not have been given up then, just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022.’
Zelensky took a lighter note while addressing Trump, adding: ‘I am confident that we will defend Ukraine, effectively guarantee security, and that our people will always be grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and every partner and ally for their support and invaluable assistance.’
While Zelensky expressed gratitutde for both Trump and America in his statement, there are worldwide concerns that his meeting with Trump on Monday could end poorly.
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Finland are rallying around the Ukrainian president and will join him in Washington for the highly anticipated meeting amid fears he is walking into a trap.
Their pledge to be at Zelensky’s side is an apparent effort to ensure the meeting goes better than the last one in February, when Trump berated Zelensky in a heated Oval Office encounter.
At the time, the Ukrainian leader was asked to leave the White House by top Trump advisors following the heated confrontation.
The meeting comes days after Trump met with Putin for a two-and-a-half hour discussion in Alaska about the ongoing conflict
‘You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,’ Trump told Zelensky.
Vice President JD Vance chimed in, demanding that Zelensky show gratitude – asking, ‘Have you said ”thank you” once?’
‘The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr. Zelensky to the hilt,’ said retired French General Dominique Trinquand.
‘It’s a power struggle and a position of strength that might work with Trump.’
Trump appeared unfazed by the EU leaders’ decision to join Zelensky to send him a message, writing on Truth Social on Sunday night: ‘Big day at the White House tomorrow.
‘Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!!’
He added: ‘The Fake News will say that it is a big loss for President Trump to host so many great European Leaders at our beautiful White House. Actually, it is a great honor for America!!!’
Neil Melvin, director of international security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, said European leaders are trying to ‘shape this fast-evolving agenda.’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
The meeting comes days after Trump met with Putin for a two-and-a-half hour discussion in Alaska about the ongoing conflict.
Afterwards, Trump admitted he and Putin could not strike a deal on the crisis, but insisted: ‘We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to.
‘We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.’
After the Alaska summit, the idea of a ceasefire appears all-but-abandoned, with the narrative shifting toward Putin’s agenda of ensuring Ukraine does not join NATO or even the EU.
Diplomatic sources said that Friday’s summit paved the way for a deal in which Ukraine would be expected to surrender large swathes of the Donbas region in the east of the country, including areas currently controlled by Kyiv.
Zelensky earlier pushed back against Trump’s assertion — which aligned with Putin’s preference — that the two sides should negotiate a complete end to the war, rather than first securing a ceasefire.
This would allow Putin to continue his deadly strikes until a full peace deal was achieved.
Zelensky said a ceasefire would provide breathing room to review Putin’s demands.
‘It’s impossible to do this under the pressure of weapons,’ he said. ‘Putin does not want to stop the killing, but he must do it.’
