Zelensky joined a virtual summit on Sunday with NATO and European leaders - EPA.
Donald Trump stated that the Ukrainian president can conclude Russia's war "if he chooses to," but Ukraine will not join NATO as part of any peace agreement.
Hours before he was set to welcome Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Trump stated that there would be "no returning" the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow unlawfully annexed in 2014, eight years before its full-scale invasion.
Trump's statements come after he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where the US president reversed his call for a ceasefire and instead advocated for a lasting peace agreement.
Upon his arrival in the US late Sunday, Zelensky reiterated his appeal for strong security assurances from allies.
A US representative stated on Sunday that Putin had consented to a potential security agreement similar to NATO for Ukraine.
The president of Russia has repeatedly rejected the notion of Ukraine becoming part of the military alliance.
Fatal Russian strikes on Ukrainian towns and cities persisted hours before the summit in Washington, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals, including children.
In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that a Russian drone strike on an apartment building resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals. Officials reported that at least three individuals were killed in Zaporizhzhia.
Zelensky labeled the assaults as a "demonstrative and cynical Russian attack" in a message on X.
"Putin will carry out visible killings to exert pressure on Ukraine and Europe, while also undermining diplomatic initiatives." "That is exactly why we are asking for help to stop the murders," he stated.
Previously, Trump shared on his Truth Social platform, stating: "President Zelensky of Ukraine can conclude the war with Russia almost instantly if he wishes to, or he can persist in the conflict."
"Recall the beginning." No returning to the Obama era regarding Crimea (12 years prior, without any shots fired!), and NO NATO MEMBERSHIP FOR UKRAINE. Certain things remain constant!!! Trump mentioned.
The president's claim is false: At least two Ukrainian troops are confirmed to have been killed by Russian forces in Crimea in 2014.
The Ukrainian minesweeper Cherkasy was also assaulted by Russian forces while attempting to exit the area.
Before Trump's reinstatement in January, NATO nations consented to Kyiv's "irreversible path" toward joining the alliance.
Before Trump's reinstatement in January, NATO nations consented to Kyiv's "irreversible path" toward joining the alliance.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, together with European leaders such as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, will meet Zelensky in Washington on Monday to discuss Ukraine's future.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are also present. It is uncertain how many of them will visit the White House.
Trump subsequently mentioned, "Important day at the White House tomorrow." Never before have so many European leaders gathered simultaneously. "It is a great honor for me to host them!!!"
Zelensky expressed his "gratitude" for Trump's invitation in a social media post. "We all have a deep wish to conclude this war swiftly and dependably."
He reiterated the necessity for strong security assurances from allies, "unlike years before... when Ukraine received so-called 'security guarantees' in 1994 that ultimately failed".
"Certainly, Crimea ought not to have been relinquished at that time," he remarked. "Just as Ukrainians held on to Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022."
The unprecedented gathering of numerous heads of state traveling on such short notice across the Atlantic for what is effectively a wartime crisis meeting highlights the extremely high stakes involved.
Diplomatic sources indicate that European officials worry Trump might attempt to persuade Zelensky to accept terms, particularly after the Ukrainian leader was left out of the Trump-Putin meeting on US territory last Friday.
However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed CBS, the BBC's US partner, that any implication of Zelensky being pressured by Trump into agreeing to a peace deal was a "foolish media narrative."
Nato leaders seem keen to prevent a recurrence of Zelensky's February visit to the Oval Office, which ended suddenly after a disagreement with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance.
The clash - in which Trump claimed Zelensky was "playing with World War Three" - shattered relations between Washington and Kyiv.
However, since that time, European leaders have been actively striving in the background to repair the relationship. The Ukrainian president has been trained to communicate in deal-making terms - a type of language that appeals to Trump.
In April, Ukraine entered into a minerals agreement that granted the US a financial interest in the nation, and Trump and Zelensky held a private conversation at the Vatican before Pope Francis's funeral. Ukraine indicated its readiness to finance American arms.
In July, the two leaders spoke on the phone, which the Ukrainian president called "the best conversation we have had."
At the same time, Trump started to show frustration with Russia's persistent aggression in Ukraine. He labeled Putin as "totally insane," significantly reduced his timeline for a peace agreement, and warned of economic sanctions against Moscow.
While these discussions drag on, Russian troops keep progressing on the front lines. They currently control nearly one-fifth of Ukraine since Moscow.
On Sunday, a virtual summit took place between Zelensky and the so-called coalition of the willing, which comprises nations such as the UK, France, and Germany that have committed to safeguarding peace in Ukraine once it is established.
Subsequently, Emmanuel Macron informed reporters that their intention was to "show a united front" during Monday's discussions with Trump.
Zelensky and the NATO leaders expressed a desire to gain further insights after US envoy Steve Witkoff informed US television that Putin had consented on Friday to "strong security guarantees that I would call transformative."
Witkoff mentioned that this agreement might enable Europe and the US to defend Ukraine against additional aggression through a NATO-style defense pact.
"Witkoff informed CNN on Sunday that we succeeded in obtaining the concession that the United States might provide Article 5-style protection, which is a key reason why Ukraine aims to join NATO."
Putin has consistently resisted Ukraine's NATO membership, and Witkoff mentioned that this setup could serve as an alternative if the Ukrainians "can accept it".
Article 5 is a fundamental principle of the 32-member transatlantic military alliance, stating that its members will defend an ally who is being attacked.
Witkoff informed CNN that Russia offered "certain concessions" regarding five disputed areas in Ukraine.
Following discussions with European allies post-Alaska summit, Trump stated that Putin had confirmed his desire for the crucial Donetsk and Luhansk regions comprising Donbas in eastern Ukraine, as reported by European officials.
During the virtual summit with NATO leaders on Sunday, Zelensky emphasized that the Ukrainian constitution prevents any territorial concessions and asserted that such matters should solely be addressed by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia in a trilateral summit involving the US.
The US secretary of state, for their part, aimed to dampen expectations that an agreement to resolve Europe’s most lethal conflict in 80 years might be approaching.
"We're still quite far away," Rubio stated on Sunday.
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