Trump: “President Zelensky can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight."

Washington, DC: Hours before President Volodymyr Zelensky’s motorcade pulls up at the White House, Donald Trump has laid down terms he believes are essential for any end to the war in Ukraine. The U.S. president says Kyiv must cede Crimea to Russia and commit never to join NATO.

Donald Trump has told Ukraine to give up hopes of getting back annexed Crimea or joining NATO as he prepares to host President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Washington on Monday to press Kyiv into accepting a peace deal with Russia.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that European leaders are in the U.S. to back up Zelensky from being railroaded into a deal.

The European political heavyweights expected in Washington are Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The Prime Minister will join Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House as the US issues its demands to Ukraine following last week's Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin

Special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff says Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed to allow the U.S. and Europe to offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO's collective defense mandate.

In a strongly worded post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “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. Some things never change!!!”

Arriving in Washington late on Sunday, Zelenskiy said he hoped “shared strength with America and with our European friends will compel Russia to real peace.”

Trump has signalled that Ukraine must accept Russia's terms on Crimea and NATO as Zelenskyy and top European leaders arrive at the White House for high-stakes talks.