The European leaders are journeying to Washington to express solidarity with Ukraine and advocate for robust security guarantees in any post-war settlement.

‘No going into NATO’

Zelenskyy “can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Remember how it started. No recovering Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE.”

However, Zelenskyy has largely dismissed the framework of Putin’s proposals from the Alaska meeting, which includes Ukraine relinquishing the remainder of its eastern Donetsk region, of which it currently controls a quarter.

‘Russia must end this war’

Zelenskyy is also pursuing an immediate ceasefire to facilitate deeper peace discussions. Although Trump initially supported this approach, he shifted his stance after the summit with Putin, showing preference for Russia’s favored method of negotiating a comprehensive deal whilst conflict persists.

“We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably,” Zelenskyy stated on the Telegram messaging app. “Russia must end this war — the war it initiated. And I hope that our shared strength with America and with our European friends will compel Russia to real peace.”

Deadly strikes on Kharkiv