Trump-Zelensky Washington Meet:  United States President Donald Trump has stirred fresh debate over the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, asserting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “can end the war almost immediately if he wants to.” The remarks, made on Truth Social on Sunday, came hours before Trump is scheduled to meet Zelenskyy and several European leaders at the White House on Monday in what is being billed as a high-stakes round of diplomacy.

In his posts, Trump ruled out any possibility of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), reiterating Russia’s long-standing opposition. He referred to the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 under the Obama administration, stressing that “some things never change.” “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. 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,” Trump wrote. The statement may trigger Kyiv, which has repeatedly maintained that NATO membership remains one of its core security aspirations, despite Moscow’s resistance.

Despite ruling out NATO membership, Trump’s team has offered Ukraine NATO-style “security guarantees.” His top envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Putin had agreed in principle to “robust guarantees” that would provide Ukraine protection against further Russian incursions. Witkoff described the arrangement as similar to NATO’s Article 5 clause, under which an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. “We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing,” he told CNN, noting that Russia had never previously accepted such terms.

Zelenskyy Hails “Historic” US Offer

In a separate statement, President Zelenskyy praised the United States for extending NATO-like protections, calling the move “historic.” He said such guarantees must be practical, ensuring defense on land, air, and sea, and should involve participation from European partners. “This is a historic decision that the United States is ready to take part in security guarantees for Ukraine. They must really be practical, delivering protection on land, in the air, and at sea,” Zelenskyy said after holding a video conference with leaders of Britain, France, and Germany.

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While Washington has signaled flexibility on a deal, several European allies remain wary of any settlement requiring Kyiv to cede territory. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said over the weekend that “both Russia and Ukraine will have to make concessions” if a lasting peace deal is to be achieved. The meeting in Washington on Monday will bring together Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders for what is expected to be a decisive phase in negotiations. Trump described it as a “big day at the White House,” claiming he had “never had so many European leaders at one time.”

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The latest round of talks in Washington is expected to focus on whether Ukraine will accept a framework deal that trades NATO membership for long-term US-led security guarantees, while also addressing territorial disputes with Russia. As the war enters its fourth year, the political pressure on all sides is intensifying. Trump is seeking to project himself as a deal-maker ahead of the US presidential elections, while Zelenskyy faces the challenge of balancing Western support with Ukraine’s own territorial red lines. Whether the Washington talks produce a breakthrough or prolong the stalemate will likely shape the trajectory of the war in months to come.