As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House, the stakes in Washington are higher than ever. The meeting comes just days after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. During the Alaska meet, Putin reportedly made a proposal that Ukraine should hand over the remainder of the Donbas region to Russia in exchange for an end to the war.

Trump, according to European leaders briefed on the talks, appeared to endorse the idea, suggesting that ceding territory might be the fastest route to freezing the war. US President has publicly framed the situation in stark terms, stating that Zelenskyy could end the war “almost immediately, if he wants to.”

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Trump Signals Hard Line On Crimea And NATO

Hours before welcoming Zelenskyy to the White House, Trump also clarified his stance. Taking to Truth Social, Trump stated that Ukraine would not be able to reclaim Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, nor would it be permitted to join NATO as part of any peace settlement.

“Some things never change,” Trump wrote, referring to Crimea as territory “given away” under former US President Barack Obama. The statement underscored Trump’s willingness to accept Russian territorial control as the basis for a peace deal, an approach Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected.

'Big Day At White House'

Calling Monday a “big day at the White House,” Trump noted that he would also host several European leaders alongside Zelenskyy. “We have never had so many European Leaders here at one time. A great honour for America!!! Let’s see what the results will be,” he posted.

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At the Alaska summit, US envoy Steve Witkoff claimed Putin had agreed to provide security guarantees for Ukraine and ease some of his territorial demands as part of negotiations. However, Moscow has not publicly confirmed these commitments. For his part, Zelenskyy has insisted that any guarantees would have to be stronger than past promises that failed to prevent the invasion.

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As the two presidents meet in Washington, Zelenskyy faces the difficult task of countering mounting pressure to trade land for peace while holding firm to Ukraine’s stance on sovereignty and NATO aspirations.