US President Donald Trump has said Ukraine could end the war with Russia "if it wants to," but only under a peace deal that would prevent Kyiv from joining NATO and require it to give up Crimea. The remarks came just hours before Trump was scheduled to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House this August 18, highlighting the difficult agenda for the upcoming talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy now faces a challenging meeting with Trump, as experts warn the terms under discussion are not all in Kyiv’s favor.
Trump’s comments came after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where Trump dropped his earlier demand for a ceasefire and instead urged a permanent peace settlement.
Efforts to end the war continue, but achieving a lasting peace remains a complex challenge, rooted in years of conflict. In April 2014, Russia-backed separatists seized control of several Ukrainian towns shortly after Russia annexed Crimea in February/March 2014. Then, in early 2022, Russia amassed troops along the Ukrainian border, leading to the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
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