LONDON– Head Of State Donald Trump on Sunday teased what he stated would certainly be a “wedding day” as Ukrainian Head Of State Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a host of European leaders planned for a White Home conference that Trump stated can finish Russia’s intrusion of Ukraine “practically instantly.”
Monday’s Washington, D.C., top complies with Trump’s conference with Russian Head of state Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Because that conference, Trump shows up to have actually dropped his need for Russia to accept a prompt ceasefire and is currently pressing Kyiv to approve territorial giving ins to safeguard a tranquility bargain.
On Sunday, Trump clearly stated Ukraine will certainly not reclaim Crimea– inhabited by Russia in 2014. The head of state additionally duplicated that Ukraine will certainly not be enabled to sign up with NATO, though White Home unique agent Steve Witkoff and Zelenskyy have actually meant alternate safety and security warranties entailing the united state
” Head Of State Zelenskyy of Ukraine can finish the battle with Russia practically instantly, if he intends to, or he can remain to combat,” Trump created on social networks on Sunday.
The head of state has actually formerly inaccurately mounted Ukraine as the initiator of the dispute, which started with Russia’s full-blown intrusion in February 2022. That intrusion complied with Moscow’s cross-border aggressiveness in 2014, which saw Russia confiscate Crimea and components of the eastern Donbas area.
” Special day at the White Home tomorrow,” Trump included. “I have actually never ever had numerous European leaders at once. It’s my terrific honor to hold them!!!”
Head of state Donald Trump invites Ukrainian Head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28, 2025.
Ben Curtis/AP
” NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE,” Trump included. “Some points never ever alter!!!”
Trump is anticipated to welcome Zelenskyy outside the West Wing at 1 p.m. ET, according to a timetable released by the White Home, after which they will certainly hold a reciprocal conference. The head of state is arranged to take images with European leaders at around 2:30 p.m. ET and hold a multilateral conference with them at 3 p.m.
Zelenskyy stated in an article to social networks that he had actually shown up in Washington on Sunday evening, revealing his gratefulness to Trump for holding the prepared conference. “All of us share a solid need to finish this battle swiftly and accurately,” Zelenskyy created.
” And tranquility should be long-term,” he included, keeping in mind Moscow’s 2014 aggressiveness plus the failing of the global area to apply the 1994 Budapest Memorandum– which was additionally authorized by Russia– that provided Ukraine “safety and security guarantees” for Kyiv surrendering its Cold War-era nuclear collection.
” Ukrainians are defending their land, for their freedom,” Zelenskyy created. “Russia should finish this battle, which it itself began. And I really hope that our joint toughness with America, with our European pals, will certainly require Russia right into an actual tranquility.”
Friday’s top in Alaska finished with Russia requiring that Ukraine yield the totality of its disputed and strengthened eastern Donetsk area for an end to the combating, 2 resources informed ABC Information.
Trump after that tested Kyiv to “make the bargain” and showered appreciation on Putin. “Look, Russia is a huge power, and they’re not,” Trump informed Fox Information after the conference. Putin, he included, is a “solid man” and “challenging as heck.”
A host of European leaders will certainly come with Zelenskyy at the White Home conference. European leaders have actually backed Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s settings throughout the Trump management’s stress project on Kyiv.
Those validated as participating in are European Compensation Head of state Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Head Of State Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, French Head Of State Emmanuel Macron, Italian Head Of State Giorgia Meloni and Finnish Head Of State Alexander Stubb.
Ahead of recently’s top in Alaska, European leaders resembled Zelenskyy’s setting that a ceasefire have to come before tranquility arrangements, that safety and security warranties for Kyiv have to be established which just Ukraine can make the decision on any kind of territorial giving ins.
Smoke climbs from harmed structures at the website of the Russian drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in this handout image launched on Aug. 18, 2025.
State Emergency Situation Solution Of Ukrai/via Reuters
On Sunday, French Head of state Emmanuel Macron informed press reporters that he and his fellow European leaders will certainly be taking a trip to Washington both to sustain Zelenskyy and “to protect European passions” at a “extremely major” minute for the continent’s safety and security.
” If we are weak today with Russia, we prepare the battles of tomorrow,” Macron stated, including that Moscow had “never ever” valued past “assurances of non-aggression.”
The nature of Western safety and security warranties for Ukraine will certainly be a vital subject for conversation, Macron stated, discussing to reporters a two-pronged strategy whereby Ukraine’s armed force would certainly be reinforced and a Western “confidence pressure” would certainly be released to Ukraine to work as a deterrent versus restored Russian strikes.
Any kind of giving ins will certainly stimulate extreme argument within Ukraine. The nation’s constitution determines that any kind of modifications to the nationwide boundaries have to be accepted by an all-Ukraine vote.
Kyiv’s passions to sign up with both NATO and the European Union are additionally preserved in the constitution, implying it might require to be changed for Ukraine to approve exemption from either bloc.
” Territorial giving ins are difficult,” Oleksandr Mrezhko, a participant of the Ukrainian parliament and chair of the body’s international events board, informed ABC Information. “Under the here and now scenarios, we require a ceasefire and safety and security warranties to stop Putin from breaking the ceasefire.”
” In my point of view, Putin’s concept concerning a ‘tranquility treaty’ as opposed to a ceasefire is very unsafe and inappropriate for both Ukraine and the united state,” he included.
” That the united state uses to be taken part in safety and security warranties is terrific information for us, however we do not recognize yet what it will certainly remain in method,” Merezhko stated. “I directly remain to think that the very best choice for all– Ukraine, the United State and the EU– is NATO subscription for Ukraine.”
” Putin hesitates of just one point– NATO,” Merezhko included. “That’s why it’s one of the most trusted and efficient safety and security warranty for us.”
On The Other Hand, both Russia and Ukraine proceeded long-range strikes over night right into Monday.
Ukraine’s flying force stated Russia introduced 140 drones and 4 projectiles in the nation, of which 88 drones were obliterated or subdued. Rocket and drone effects were reported throughout 25 areas in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa and Kyiv areas, the flying force stated.
A minimum of 7 individuals, consisting of a youngster, were eliminated when a Russian drone influenced an apartment building in Kharkiv, regional authorities stated.
Russia’s Protection Ministry stated its pressures downed at the very least 24 Ukrainian drones over night.
ABC Information’ Tom Soufi Burridge and Kelsey Walsh added to this record.
