Trump urges Zelensky to cede Crimea, abandon NATO bid

On the eve of highly consequential talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a large delegation of European leaders, US President Donald Trump on Sunday previewed the message he’ll deliver to his White House visitors: Zelensky must agree to some of Russia’s conditions for the war in Ukraine to end.

“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. “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!!!”

The post underscored the pressure Zelensky will face Monday as Trump works to end the conflict. The two conditions he listed—Ukraine ceding Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, and agreeing never to join NATO—are among the conditions Vladimir Putin has set for ending the war.

European leaders visiting the White House with Zelensky on Monday are concerned the meeting will amount to Trump pressuring the Ukrainian leader to accept the conditions Putin put forward in their Alaska summit last week.

They hope to glean more information from Trump on what Russia might concede as part of a peace deal, including what role the US would play in providing security guarantees going forward.

“Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!!” Trump posted after his message to Zelensky.

The European delegation includes French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Source: CNN Live updates