Trump Suggests Ukraine Must Forgo NATO Membership and Crimea for Peace with Russia

Donald Trump stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could end Russia’s war if he chooses, but any peace agreement would exclude Ukraine’s NATO membership. Speaking hours before hosting Zelensky at the White House, Trump also declared that Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, would not be returned to Ukraine. These comments follow Trump’s recent summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where he shifted from advocating a ceasefire to pushing for a permanent peace deal. Upon arriving in the US on Sunday, Zelensky emphasized the need for robust security guarantees from allies.