Trump Says Zelenskyy Can End Russia War ‘Almost Immediately’ Ahead of White House Meeting

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President Donald Trump has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could end Russia’s war in Ukraine “almost immediately,” as both leaders prepare for a high-level summit in Washington, D.C., with several European and NATO counterparts.

The meeting follows Trump’s recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where discussions centered on ceasefire terms and territorial concessions. Trump has since shifted his stance, dropping demands for Moscow to halt hostilities outright and instead pressuring Kyiv to accept compromises over its sovereignty.

On Sunday, Trump stated publicly that Ukraine would not regain Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and reiterated his opposition to Ukraine joining NATO. He suggested alternative security guarantees could be explored, an approach echoed by White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Zelenskyy himself.

“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump wrote on social media. He added, “Big day at the White House tomorrow. I’ve never had so many European leaders at one time.”

Zelenskyy confirmed his arrival in Washington late Sunday, expressing gratitude to Trump for hosting the talks. He stressed the importance of securing a durable peace, citing past failures such as Russia’s breach of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the annexation of Crimea in 2014. “Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Russia must end this war, which it itself started.”

The White House schedule indicates that Trump will greet Zelenskyy at 1 p.m. ET Monday before holding bilateral and multilateral meetings with European leaders. Those confirmed include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

The summit comes after Russia demanded Ukraine cede the entire Donetsk region in exchange for ending hostilities. Trump subsequently praised Putin, calling him a “strong guy” and “tough as hell.” In contrast, European leaders have consistently backed Ukraine’s position that a ceasefire must precede negotiations and that only Kyiv can decide on territorial concessions.

Macron described the Washington summit as a “very serious” moment for European security, warning that weakness toward Russia could invite future conflicts. He emphasized that Ukraine needs both military reinforcement and a Western deterrence force to prevent renewed Russian aggression.

Ukrainian law requires any border changes to be approved through a nationwide referendum, making territorial concessions a contentious issue. Kyiv’s constitutional commitment to NATO and European Union membership further complicates the negotiations.

Oleksandr Mrezhko, chair of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, rejected the idea of territorial concessions. He argued that a ceasefire with binding security guarantees is essential, while NATO membership remains the most reliable guarantee against future Russian aggression. “Putin is afraid of only one thing — NATO,” Mrezhko stated.

Meanwhile, hostilities on the ground continue. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 88 of 140 Russian drones launched overnight, alongside multiple missile strikes across six regions. Local officials in Kharkiv said at least seven people, including a child, were killed in a drone strike on an apartment building. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces downed 24 Ukrainian drones overnight.

The summit in Washington is expected to focus on potential security guarantees for Ukraine, the framework for a ceasefire, and the role of European allies in supporting Kyiv against Russian aggression.