US President Donald Trump on Monday said Ukraine must give up its ambition for NATO membership and reclaiming Crimea. Trump will be meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders in Washington.
Trump wrote on Truth social: “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. Remember how it started. 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!!!”
On the other hand, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged stronger sanctions against Russia if no trilateral meeting is held between him, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The statement followed a call between Zelensky and Trump on Saturday, one day after the US leader met with Putin in Alaska without Ukraine’s participation.
Recounting his conversation with Trump in a post on X, Zelensky wrote that “sanctions are an effective tool.” He added they “should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting” or if Russia tries to evade what he called “an honest end to the war.”
I am grateful for the 18th sanctions package. We need to prepare the 19th, so Russia sees that we are serious. We understand Russia's strategic direction—it is anti-European, and so we must continue to limit Russia’s potential.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 17, 2025
