Trump reveals how Zelensky could end Russia-Ukraine war 'almost immediately'

President Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could end the war between Russia and Ukraine “almost immediately” by not trying to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and by not trying to take back Crimea.

In a Sunday post on Truth Social prior to Monday’s meetings with Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House, 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!!!”

According to The Daily Caller, NATO previously tried to have Ukraine join the alliance in 2023 following Russia’s invasion. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently opposed Ukraine joining NATO since the nation would then be protected by Article 5, which states that an attack on one NATO nation is considered an attack on the whole alliance, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN on Sunday that Putin is open to a similar defense provision with the U.S. as part of a potential peace deal. 

“Putin has said that a red flag is NATO admission,” Witkoff said. “And so what we were discussing was assuming that that held, assuming that the Ukrainians could agree to that and could live with that — and everything is going to be about what the Ukrainians can live with — but assuming they could, we were able to win the following concession that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection.”

In addition to not joining NATO, Trump suggested that Ukraine should give up the idea of retaking Crimea, which was seized by Russia in 2014 during former President Barack Obama’s administration, according to The Daily Caller. The outlet noted that in addition to Crimea, Putin has reportedly pushed for the Donbas region of Ukraine to be annexed by Russia as part of recent negotiations.

In a Truth Social post following Monday’s meetings at the White House, Trump said he had a “very good meeting” with Zelensky and the other European leaders. 

“At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump stated. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself.”