US president Donald Trump on Monday said that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy could “end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to.” The US president added that Kyiv must not seek Nato membership and that Crimea, annexed under former US president Barack Obama, would not be returned.In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “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!”
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Trump further said he was preparing for a major day at the White House with several European leaders. “Never had so many European leaders at one time. My great honour to host them!!!” he wrote. In another post, he added, “The fake news will say that it is a big loss for president Trump to host so many great European leaders at our beautiful White House. Actually, it is a great honour for America!!!” The comments came ahead of a crucial meeting on Monday with Zelenskyy, who will be joined by top European leaders and Nato.European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, French president Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte have also announced their participation. UK prime minister Keir Starmer will be part of the delegation too, Downing Street said in a statement. The joint visit comes just days after Trump met Russian president Vladimir Putin in a summit where Zelenskyy was not present. That meeting raised concerns in Kyiv and across Europe that Washington might push Ukraine towards a peace deal favouring Moscow. European and Nato leaders are now making a collective effort to stand alongside Zelenskyy, to avoid a repeat of his tense February meeting with Trump, when Kyiv feared being cornered into concessions.