18 August 2025
KEY MOMENTS
Updated 5 minutes ago
Donald Trump has told Volodymyr Zelensky that he can “almost immediately” end Russia’s war on Ukraine if he abandons his Nato ambitions and agrees not to reclaim Crimea.
The US president made the demands when he took to his Truth Social platform with a preview of the message he will deliver his Ukrainian counterpart at their high-stakes meeting in Washington on Monday.
“President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Mr Trump wrote in the social media post.
“Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea…and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”
The post gave some insight into the pressure Mr Zelensky could face when he returns to the White House for the first time since his bruising clash in February with Mr Trump and JD Vance, the US vice president.
The conditions Mr Trump listed mirror those made by Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, when the pair met at a military base in Alaska on Friday.
Putin has also demanded that Ukraine surrender Donetsk, its most valuable region, to Russia.
European leaders, fearful Mr Zelensky could be bullied into agreeing to concessions, have flown to the US in a show of solidarity and to bolster Kyiv’s resistance against pressure to give up its minerals-rich region.
Mr Trump also posted on Sunday night: “Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honour to host them!!!”
Timeline of the day’s events
- 12pm ET (5pm BST) EU leaders will arrive at the White House
- 1pm ET (6pm BST) Donald Trump is set to welcome Volodymyr Zelensky
- 1.15pm ET (6.15pm BST) Mr Trump to hold a meeting with Mr Zelensky
- 2.15pm ET (7.15pm BST) Mr Trump to greet EU leaders
- 2.30pm ET (7.30pm BST) Family photo with Mr Trump and EU leaders
- 3pm ET (8pm BST) Mr Trump to take part in a multilateral meeting with EU leaders
Zelensky arrives in Washington
The Ukrainian president has landed in Washington for his meeting with Donald Trump.
Today will mark Mr Zelensky’s first visit to the Oval Office since his tense exchange with Mr Trump back in February.
As he arrived late on Sunday night, Mr Zelensky said that all sides were seeking a rapid end to the war.
“I am grateful to the President of the United States for the invitation. We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably,” he wrote on social media.
“And I hope that our shared strength with America and with our European friends will compel Russia to real peace.”
Trump rules out Ukraine reclaiming Crimea and joining Nato
Donald Trump has said that reclaiming Crimea and joining Nato is off the table for Ukraine.
In a post on Truth Social ahead of his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Trump wrote: “President Zelensky 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…and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”
Welcome
Donald Trump will host Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House today for talks on ending the Ukraine war.
We will be bringing you the latest updates on the high-stakes meeting in Washington.
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Zelensky: We all share a desire to end this war quickly
The Ukrainian president’s statement in full as he arrives in Washington:
I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to
@POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting. Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East—part of Donbas—and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack. Or when Ukraine was given so called “security guarantees” in 1994, but they didn’t work. Of course, Crimea should not have been given up then, just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022. Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence. Now, our soldiers have successes in Donetsk and Sumy regions. I am confident that we will defend Ukraine, effectively guarantee security, and that our people will always be grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and every partner and ally for their support and invaluable assistance. Russia must end this war, which it itself started. And I hope that our joint strength with America, with our European friends, will force Russia into a real peace. Thank you!
As usual, Krasnov has it ass about face.
He’s already issuing ultimatums to the victim, when he should be telling the child trafficking nazi scrote what he and his filthy murder gang must do to end his genocide.
Comment from :
Shaun Nelson
Never forget.
Trump applauds child murderer Putin on his arrival in Alaska.
Putin is a mass murderer of civilians going back 2 decades.
He carpet bombed civilians in Aleppo, Chechnya, Crimea, Georgia and now Ukraine.
Trump is no tough guy. A sycophant to Putin never is.
Sickening 😡
Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦 ♥️
Unfortunately this news item has also been swamped with kremtrolls. The following one is very active and well known:-
Tottenham Scott
I’ll get the popcorn in for later.
Trump has got the puppet Action Man and the coalition of the irrelevant dancing to his tune at will.
Rushing to the White House to show the world how ridiculous they all are whilst their respective countries are in tatters. They are completely without shame.
Welcome back, scradge.