Trump says Zelensky can end war ‘almost immediately’ but Crimea, Nato off limits

The Ukrainian president is returning to Washington for the first time since a spectacularly tense exchange with Trump in February

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, Belgium, on Sunday ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump. Photo: EPA

Published: 11:03am, 18 Aug 2025Updated: 11:07am, 18 Aug 2025

US President Donald Trump said that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky could choose to end the war with Russia “almost immediately”, but retaking Russian-occupied Crimea or joining Nato are off the table.

“President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform late on Sunday.

“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!!!” he added.

Trump’s post comes as he hosts the Ukrainian president and European leaders in the White House on Monday.

Upon his arrival in Washington late on Sunday, Zelensky said that he hoped that Ukraine’s “shared strength” with the US and European counterparts would compel Russia to 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,” he said on the Telegram messaging app.

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