Zelensky Meets Trump at White House Amid Mounting Pressure to Accept Russia’s Peace Terms
Washington(The Uttam Hindu): In a dramatic White House meeting on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. President Donald Trump alongside top European leaders amid growing fears that Kyiv may be pressured into accepting Russia’s conditions for peace.
Zelensky, speaking upon arrival in the U.S., declared, “Together with America and our European friends, our united strength will push Russia toward real peace.” His statement came just hours after Trump openly warned that Ukraine should “forget Crimea” and not be “too eager” for NATO membership—remarks that shook Kyiv’s allies.
The high-profile summit included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, NATO chief Mark Rutte, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. European leaders stressed unity, with Macron cautioning: “If we show weakness before Russia today, we prepare the ground for future wars.”
Trump, however, doubled down on his stance, writing on Truth Social that Zelensky “could end the war almost immediately if he wanted, or keep fighting.” The White House meeting is expected to focus on Russia’s demands—Ukraine abandoning its claim on Crimea and ruling out NATO membership—terms strongly opposed by Europe.
As the world watches, the summit is being viewed as a turning point in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, testing the balance between peace and Ukraine’s sovereignty.