Kyiv’s leader expressed a belief that with Western backing, Ukraine could compel Russia to accept genuine peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, scheduled to meet Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, appears to have already dismissed the peace conditions for Russia proposed by the U.S. president.
On Sunday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Zelensky “has the ability to end the conflict with Russia almost instantly, if he chooses, or he can elect to prolong the fighting.”
The U.S. president’s proposed settlement terms included “Crimea not being reclaimed” and “Ukraine not joining NATO.”
Approximately ninety minutes later, the Ukrainian leader posted on X, reiterating his reluctance to make concessions to conclude the conflict.
He asserted that not Ukraine, but “Russia is obligated to terminate this war, which it initiated. And I am hopeful that our collective power with America and our European allies will compel Russia towards a genuine peace.”
Zelensky subsequently stated that “I am certain we will protect Ukraine.”
He further commented, “Certainly, Crimea ought not to have been relinquished at that time, just as Ukrainians did not abandon Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv following 2022.”
Crimea formally joined Russia in 2014, following a referendum where its populace largely endorsed the action.
Even while declining to yield ground, the Ukrainian president expressed gratitude to Trump for the White House “invitation” and maintained that he and the U.S. president “hold a mutual strong wish to swiftly and dependably conclude this conflict.”
Zelensky’s visit to Washington comes after Friday’s summit in Alaska, where Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump met, with both leaders underscoring their dedication to resolving the Ukraine situation.
Following the discussions, Putin reiterated that addressing the fundamental origins of the conflict is crucial for any resolution. The Russian perspective holds that enduring peace necessitates Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions, demilitarizing, and acknowledging present territorial facts; this includes the status of Crimea, alongside the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, the last four having voted to become part of Russia in 2022.