Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that the onus is on Russia to end its war in Ukraine, just hours before high-stakes meetings with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is reportedly urging Ukraine to relinquish Crimea and abandon its long-standing NATO membership ambitions.

The remarks came ahead of a crucial Monday summit in Washington, following Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, which ended without a ceasefire agreement.

Trump has now shifted focus from an immediate ceasefire to a broader “final peace deal”, suggesting on Truth Social that Zelensky could end the three-and-a-half-year conflict “almost immediately, if he wants to.” He emphasized long-standing U.S. positions: “No getting back Obama-given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!”

Upon arrival in Washington, Zelensky doubled down, stating on X (formerly Twitter):

“Russia must end this war, which it itself started. Ukrainians are fighting for their land, their independence.”
He expressed hope that U.S. and European allies would “force Russia into a real peace.”

High-Level Talks Amid Intensified Fighting

Zelensky and Trump are expected to meet one-on-one before being joined by leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

China also weighed in, urging all sides to agree to a peace deal “as soon as possible.”

The meeting marks Zelensky’s first visit to the U.S. since a February clash with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who had labeled him “ungrateful” over continued U.S. military support.

Meanwhile, Russia ramped up military pressure ahead of the summit, launching at least 140 drones and four ballistic missiles overnight. A drone strike in Kharkiv killed at least seven civilians, while Ukrainian shelling in Russian-occupied Kherson and Donetsk reportedly killed two.

Trump-Putin Alaska Talks and Land Disputes

In Brussels, Zelensky said he was eager to learn details of the Trump-Putin Alaska talks, which included discussions on a possible U.S.-led collective defense guarantee for Ukraine—outside of NATO—which Trump characterized as “historic.”

Trump aide Steve Witkoff told CNN that Moscow had made “some concessions” regarding five Ukrainian regions currently under partial Russian control, especially Donetsk, where "important discussions" are set to continue Monday.

A source told AFP that Trump is leaning toward backing Russia's demand for recognition of territories in Donbas not yet fully under Russian control, in exchange for freezing the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Russia previously demanded full Ukrainian withdrawal from all four annexed regions—Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia as a precondition for peace.

However, Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits ceding any territory.

A Delicate Crossroads

The summit may mark a turning point in the war, as Western leaders seek to balance calls for peace with the risks of legitimizing territorial conquest by force. The outcome could also shape future U.S.-Russia relations and the security architecture of Eastern Europe.