Trump: Ukraine can end war now - but at huge cost

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Chancellery ahead of European coordination meetings (Illustrative image) (Photo by Filip Singer - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images

Donald Trump said Volodymyr Zelensky could end the war with Russia "almost immediately" as the Ukrainian president prepared for crucial White House meetings alongside European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer. The US president posted on Truth Social that Zelensky "can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight".

Trump's conditions would require Ukraine to accept there is "no getting back" Crimea and "no going into NATO" - key Russian demands since the 2014 annexation. The president suggested Zelensky would face calls to concede full Russian control of the mineral-rich Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for Russian withdrawal from other Ukrainian areas.

European leaders rally support

Sir Keir joins France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz, Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Finland's Alexander Stubb for the high-stakes diplomatic meetings. NATO chief Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen are also attending what sources describe as a coordinated strategy to prevent Ukraine being pressured into unfavourable concessions.

The European coalition aims to secure US security guarantees for any military peacekeeping force and persuade Trump not to reward Vladimir Putin's aggression. Only hours before the diplomatic talks, Channel4 reports that Russian drone strikes killed five people including a 1.5-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy - highlighting the ongoing violence.

Previous confrontation shadows talks

The leaders remain mindful of February's public confrontation when Zelensky last visited Trump at the White House. Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of insufficient gratitude to the US, resulting in temporarily halted American aid to Ukraine.

Professor Anthony Glees warns that Trump's expected ultimatum "will live in infamy," according to the Daily Star. The Guardian describes the European leaders as Zelensky's "dream team" of diplomatic protection for the crucial encounter.

Alternative security framework proposed

Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff claims Russia agreed during last week's Alaska summit to accept US-offered "Article 5-like protection" for Ukraine without NATO membership. Witkoff called this "game-changing" and said it was "the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that".

However, Starmer and other NATO leaders maintain Ukraine is on an "irreversible path" to alliance membership. Health minister Stephen Kinnock said the "pathway for Ukraine to NATO" cannot be dictated by any other country.

Constitutional challenges remain

Zelensky insists any peace deal must be lasting, warning against repeating past mistakes where "Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East" only for Putin to use it "as a springboard for a new attack". The Express notes that Ukraine's constitution makes territorial concessions legally impossible without constitutional change.

The Ukrainian president said: "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."

Sources used: "PA Media", "Channel4", "Daily Mail", "Mirror", "Express", "Guardian", "The Standard", "Daily Star"

Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.