In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump asserted, “President Zelensky 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 gave Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and no going into NATO by Ukraine. Some things never change!!!” he added.
The rejoining of Crimea to Russia in 2014 followed a referendum, which was condemned by Western countries.
Former US President Barack Obama described the referendum as a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and international law. But the US only imposed sanctions on Russian officials and entities in response to the move.
In a 2023 interview, Obama explained that the US refrained from military intervention due to the complex political situation in Ukraine at the time, including the presence of Russian-speaking populations in Crimea and varying political sentiments within Ukraine.
He also acknowledged the challenges in garnering unified European support for stronger measures against Russia.
Trump also noted that Monday would be a "big day" at the White House, where many European leaders convene at one time.
In addition to Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are meeting with Trump.
Trump’s meeting with European leaders follows his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
According to the sources with direct knowledge of the summit, as a prerequisite for concluding the conflict, Putin insisted on Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbas, which comprises the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces.
Although Luhansk is almost entirely under Russian control, Ukraine still holds key parts of Donetsk, including the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Putin told Trump that in exchange for Donetsk and Luhansk, he would halt further advances and freeze the frontline in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces hold significant areas.
