Trump bars Ukraine NATO entry, Crimea reclaim talks

KABUL (Pajhwok): US President Donald Trump has ruled out allowing Ukraine to join NATO or reclaim Russian-occupied Crimea as part of negotiations with Moscow, amid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s trip to Washington for talks.

Ahead of meetings with European leaders in Washington on Monday, Trump said Zelenskyy could end the war with Russia “almost immediately” if he chose to, The Guardian reported.

The US president also ruled out allowing Ukraine to join NATO or retake Russian-occupied Crimea as part of negotiations with Moscow.

Posting on Truth Social Sunday night, Trump wrote: “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. 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!!!”

Minutes later, Trump said it would be a “great honour” to host the leaders of Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the EU, and NATO at the White House, amid fears he might pressure Kyiv into accepting a settlement favourable to Moscow.

Zelenskyy, arriving in Washington late Sunday, expressed hope that Ukraine’s “shared strength” with the US and European allies would push Russia toward peace.
“I am grateful to the president of the United States for the invitation. We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram. “And I hope that our shared strength with America and our European friends will compel Russia to real peace.”

It is worth mentioning that the presidents of the United States and Russia also met last Friday in Alaska.

sa/ma