Trump Asks Zelenskyy To Leave Crimea To Russia And Not Join NATO

US President Donald Trump With Russian President Vladimir Putin In Alaska/PHOTO Via Instagram @whitehouse

JAKARTA - Ahead of important negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the European leader's grand delegation, President Donald Trump gave a message he would convey to the guests of the White House.

Zelenskyy was asked to agree to several Russian conditions for the war in Ukraine to end.

President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost instantly, if he wants, or he can continue to fight," Trump wrote on Truth Social as reported by CNN, Monday, August 18.

"Remember how this war started. No Obama will return after Crimea (12 years ago, without a single shot!), and IT WILL NOT GO TO NATO BY UKRAINE. Things never change !!," Trump continued.

The post underscores the pressure Zelenskyy will face on Monday as Trump seeks to end the conflict.

Two conditions Trump mentioned Ukraine should illegally hand over Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and Ukraine agreed never to join NATO were among the conditions set by Vladimir Putin to end the war.

European leaders visiting the White House with Zelenskyy on Monday feared the meeting would be Trump's pressure on Ukrainian leaders to accept Putin's terms at their summit in Alaska last week.

They hope to gain more information from Trump about what Russia may recognize as part of the peace deal, including what role the US will play in providing security guarantees in the future.

"Tomorrow is a big day at the White House. There have never been so many European Leaders at once. It is a great honor for me to host them!!!" Trump wrote after his message to Zelenskyy.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will join Zelenskyy on a visit to the White House on Monday.