Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the Oval Office on Monday, accompanied by several European leaders. As they prepared for this crucial meeting, Trump urged Zelensky to relinquish claims to some territories occupied by Russia, emphasizing that he could end the ongoing war with Russia “almost immediately” if he chose to do so. This pressure, however, was not reciprocated in any notable demand directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump had met on Friday.
In a post on his platform Truth Social, Trump laid out preconditions for peace, stating, “No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and no going into NATO by Ukraine.” This referred to Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014, implying that any settlement should involve Kyiv abandoning its claims to the peninsula. It was suggested that, in return, Russia might yield some claims to other territories it had seized following its invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022. Currently, Russia occupies approximately 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory.
Trump’s Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, noted that Russia had made concessions regarding the five regions it claims, reinforcing the notion of mutual compromise. Trump’s stance resonated with Putin’s demand that Ukraine should not pursue NATO membership. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present at the summit, indicated that a deal would require concessions from both sides.
As the meeting with Trump approached, the European leaders, including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, were keen to support Zelensky. They aimed to ensure there would be no forced concessions on Ukraine’s territorial integrity during discussions. Zelensky reiterated his position on X, saying, “Everyone agrees that borders must not be changed by force,” reflecting a united front against territorial negotiations that circumvent Ukraine.
After the summit, Trump appeared to retract his previous demand for an immediate ceasefire, which European leaders had supported, and removed the threat of severe consequences for Russia should the ceasefire not be implemented. The accompanying leaders aimed to protect Zelensky from undue pressure, especially regarding territorial concessions.
During an earlier Oval Office meeting in February, Trump had publicly admonished Zelensky over his demands for a peace deal, suggesting he lacked the leverage necessary and cautioning of a potential escalation into World War III. Rubio dismissed rumors that the European leaders were coming solely to shield Zelensky from Trump’s influence, labeling such narratives as “stupid media narratives.”
Despite the pressure, it was agreed that the ultimate decision regarding any peace deal rests with Zelensky. He acknowledged a key concession that Trump secured from Putin, which included a commitment to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, with U.S. involvement. Zelensky hailed this as a historic step, insisting that European participation was essential in developing these guarantees, which should encompass land, sea, and air.
Witkoff emphasized that these security guarantees were significant, describing them as potentially game-changing, and indicated that Putin had agreed to legislative measures ensuring Russia would refrain from invading Ukraine or other countries.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/as-they-prepare-to-meet-trump-turns-pressure-on-zelensky-saying-he-should-give-up-territory
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Publish Date: 2025-08-18 10:11:00
