Trump: Ukraine won't join NATO, talks with Zelensky set
Trump-Putin Summit Unfolds in Under 2 Minutes
Donald Trump stated that the Ukrainian president could end Russia's war if he chose to do so, but emphasized that Ukraine would not be allowed to join NATO as part of a peace agreement. Trump also mentioned that Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, would not be returned.
Following a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump abandoned a ceasefire demand and instead called for a permanent peace deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, upon arriving in the US, reiterated the need for effective security guarantees from allies.
A US envoy reported that Putin had agreed to a potential security pact for Ukraine, similar to NATO. However, Putin has consistently opposed Ukraine's membership in the military alliance.
Deadly Russian attacks in Ukrainian cities continued, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people, including children. Zelensky condemned the attacks as a deliberate and cynical move by Russia to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe.
Trump claimed on social media that Zelensky could end the war with Russia immediately if he desired, which was refuted as untrue given past incidents involving Russian forces in Crimea in 2014. NATO countries had previously agreed on Ukraine's path to membership in the alliance.
European leaders, including Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and others, joined Zelensky in Washington for talks on Ukraine's future. The high-level meeting underscored the seriousness of the situation in Ukraine.
Despite concerns that Trump might pressure Zelensky into accepting terms, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed such notions as a media narrative. Zelensky's previous visit to the Oval Office had ended abruptly after a dispute with Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance.
Efforts to mend the strained relationship between Washington and Kyiv have been ongoing, with Ukraine signing agreements with the US and engaging in discussions with Trump. The two leaders had positive conversations, while Trump expressed frustration with Russia's actions in Ukraine.
As Russian forces continued to advance in Ukraine, a virtual summit was held with Nato and European leaders to discuss providing security guarantees to Ukraine. The possibility of a Nato-like defense agreement to protect Ukraine from further aggression was raised.
Zelensky stressed that any discussions on territorial matters should involve the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and the US. The US secretary of state cautioned that a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine was still far off, despite recent developments.