Trump: Ukraine Gets Neither Crimea Nor NATO – Zelenskyy Faces Pressure in Washington

A Dramatic Move from Trump

US President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through Europe when, the night before the summit in Washington, he dismissed Ukraine’s prospects of joining NATO or regaining Crimea. On his Truth Social profile, he wrote that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could “end the war almost instantly, if he wants.”

This statement comes just days after Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which many observers call a clear victory for Russia. Critics argue the US risks rewarding aggression instead of stopping it.

Zelenskyy Seeks Support – But Fears Humiliation

Landing in Washington on Sunday, Zelenskyy emphasized his hope that a united West could pressure Russia towards a genuine peace. “I hope that our shared strength with America and our European friends will force Russia into real peace,” he wrote on Telegram.

But the president knows what may await. The last time he visited the White House, he was publicly rebuked by Trump and Vice President JD Vance: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.” The risk of another humiliation looms large over the meeting.

Europe Stands Together – But Without NATO

Zelenskyy is not alone in Washington. Britain’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Friedrich Merz are all present to signal European unity. They maintain that Ukraine’s territorial integrity isn’t up for negotiation, and that any compromise rewarding Putin would be dangerous.

Trump, however, has opened the door to an alternative solution, where the US and Europe offer Ukraine security guarantees outside NATO – a model similar to the alliance’s Article 5, but without actual membership. For Russia, diplomats have at the same time demanded their own guarantees.

A Political Whirlpool Without Clear Answers

The White House meeting brings several fronts together at once: a Ukraine fighting for survival, an American president angling for compromise, and European leaders balancing support and realpolitik.

Ahead lies the question that may determine the course of the war: Should Ukraine accept peace on Putin’s terms – or continue a prolonged struggle with uncertain Western backing? The answer is now being shaped in Washington’s political maelstrom.

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