Trump Pressures Ukraine to Accept Settlement as Zelensky Heads to Washington

United States President Donald Trump has stepped up calls for Ukraine to agree to a settlement that could bring an end to the ongoing conflict.

On Sunday, a day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the White House, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Kyiv had the option to end the fighting quickly.

“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump said. “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!!!”

Trump made clear that the issues of Crimea’s return and Ukraine’s potential NATO membership would not be part of any settlement framework.

European leaders are set to join Zelenskyy in Washington on Monday, amid speculation over what shape a possible agreement might take. Officials in Brussels and Kyiv have expressed concern that a compromise could lean heavily toward Moscow’s terms.

Zelenskyy, responding to Trump’s remarks, repeated that Ukraine’s priority was a durable peace.

“We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting,” he said on X.

Trump has previously spoken of the possibility of “swapping, changes in land” as part of a negotiated settlement, while Zelensky has consistently rejected ceding territory.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the White House talks. Macron said on Sunday the European leaders and Zelenskyy intended to show a united stance

Meanwhile, US special envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that Friday’s Trump–Putin summit in Alaska produced new assurances.

“We were able to win the following concession: That the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO,” Witkoff said on CNN.

Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Still, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned against expectations of an imminent breakthrough.