Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement hours before his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House today that Russia"definitely should not be rewarded" for the war it is waging, regardless of the outcome.
"Putin will commit spectacular crimes to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe and undermine diplomatic efforts. Russia should definitely not be rewarded for its participation in this war, regardless of the outcome," Zelenskyy wrote in a post on the X social media platform.
The Ukrainian leader also stated that Russia's attacks"insult" diplomatic efforts. It was also reported that Zelenskyy met with Special Representative for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg before the meeting.
According to AFP, Zelenskiy and European leaders who arrived in Washington will meet separately with Trump before the talks begin.
WHO IS IN THE EUROPEAN DELEGATION?
- French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will attend the visit with Zelenskiy.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TODAY?
This post, according to the US press,"revealed the pressure Zelenskiy will face today as Trump tries to end the conflict." Two conditions listed by Trump: Ukraine giving up Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and accepting that it will never join NATO are among the conditions put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.
He arrived in Washington around 8:00 a.m. Turkish time on Monday to visit the White House with Zelenskyy. European leaders, who will be leaving immediately afterward, fear the meeting could devolve into Trump trying to pressure the Ukrainian leader into accepting the terms Putin laid out at last week's summit in Alaska.
TIMELINE FOR THE 'BIG DAY' AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Here's the timeline for the 'big day' at the White House:
- At 19:00 Turkish time, European leaders will arrive at the White House.
- At 20:00 Turkish time, Trump will meet Zelenskyy.
- The Trump-Zelenskiy meeting will begin at 20:15 Turkish time.
- At 21:15 Turkish time, Trump will meet European leaders.
- At 22:00 Turkish time: Talks between Trump and European leaders will begin.
'I HAVE NEVER HOSTED SO MANY EUROPEAN LEADERS'
Leaders are hoping to get more information from Trump about what Russia might compromise as part of a peace deal and what role the United States will play in providing security guarantees going forward.
Following his message to Zelenskiy, Trump wrote:"Tomorrow is a big day at the White House. I have never hosted so many European leaders at the same time. It is a great honor for me to host them!!! I ended 6 wars in 6 months."
Russia will need "effective security guarantees" under a future peace agreement.
Russia will need"effective security guarantees" under any future peace agreement, Russia will need"effective security guarantees"
in a statement Sunday night, Russia s representative to international organizations in Vienna said.