Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected President Donald Trump’s conditions for ending the war with Russia, setting up a tense confrontation ahead of their scheduled White House meeting on Monday.
The dispute centers on Trump’s demands that Ukraine surrender Crimea and abandon its NATO membership aspirations.
Trump outlined his position on Sunday evening through a Truth Social post, declaring that Zelensky could “end the war with Russia almost immediately” if he chose to do so.
The president’s statement came just hours before the highly anticipated Oval Office meeting between the two leaders.
“President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump wrote on his social media platform around 9:20 PM.
The post emphasized his opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership and acceptance of Russia’s control over Crimea.
Zelensky responded swiftly to Trump’s ultimatum, taking to X within 90 minutes to reject the premise that Ukraine alone bears responsibility for ending the conflict.
The Ukrainian leader insisted that “Russia must end this war, which it itself started,” pushing back against Trump’s framing of the situation.
“Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence,” Zelensky wrote in his response.
He highlighted recent Ukrainian military successes in the Donetsk and Sumy regions while maintaining his position on territorial integrity.
The Ukrainian president specifically addressed Trump’s demand regarding Crimea, the territory Russia annexed in 2014.
Zelensky drew parallels between the current situation and past territorial concessions, warning against repeating historical mistakes.
“Of course, Crimea should not have been given up then, just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022,” Zelensky stated.
He emphasized the need for lasting peace rather than temporary solutions that could serve as springboards for future Russian aggression.
Despite the disagreement, Zelensky adopted a diplomatic tone when directly addressing Trump, avoiding personal criticism of the president.
He expressed confidence in defending Ukraine while acknowledging American support and assistance.
“I am confident that we will defend Ukraine, effectively guarantee security, and that our people will always be grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and every partner and ally for their support and invaluable assistance,” Zelensky wrote.
The diplomatic tensions unfold against a backdrop of continued violence in Ukraine.
Kharkiv suffered overnight attacks that killed three people, including a two-year-old boy, with at least 17 others wounded in the latest wave of Russian strikes.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that the toddler died in a drone strike that occurred early Monday morning, following a ballistic missile attack on Sunday night.
Emergency crews worked to rescue victims from the rubble as the casualty count continued to rise, according to Daily Mail reporting.
Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed additional fatalities from the double strike while reporting that rescue operations remained ongoing.
The earlier ballistic missile strike shattered approximately 1,000 windows throughout the city, according to regional officials.
Ukraine’s state emergency service evacuated residents from buildings deemed unsafe following the attacks.
The neighboring Sumy region also faced bombardment, with two people wounded and numerous civilian structures damaged.
European leaders have rallied around Zelensky ahead of the Washington meeting, with representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Finland traveling to support the Ukrainian president.
Their presence represents an effort to prevent a repeat of February’s contentious encounter between Trump and Zelensky.
The February meeting ended poorly, with Trump berating Zelensky in what sources described as a heated Oval Office confrontation.
Ukrainian officials were reportedly asked to leave the White House following the tense exchange.
“You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump told Zelensky during that encounter.
Vice President JD Vance questioned whether Zelensky had “said ‘thank you’ once” for American support.
French President Emmanuel Macron signaled European determination following the announcement of their joint Washington visit.
“If we’re not strong today, we’ll pay dearly tomorrow,” Macron declared, indicating the stakes European leaders perceive in the upcoming discussions.
Retired French General Dominique Trinquand characterized the European presence as a strategic move designed to influence Trump’s approach.
“The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Mr. Zelensky to the hilt,” he explained.
The post Zelensky Defies Trump’s Peace Demands as European Leaders Rush to White House for High-Stakes Ukraine Summit appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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