Trump Says Zelensky Could End Russia-Ukraine War ‘Almost Immediately’ by Dropping NATO Bid and Accepting Crimea

Washington, August 18, 2025 — Former President Donald Trump said Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could end the war with Russia “almost immediately” if Ukraine abandons its bid to join NATO and accepts Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Trump made the remarks in a late-night Truth Social post, stating that Ukraine could either “end the war with Russia almost immediately” or continue fighting. He emphasized that Ukraine should not seek NATO membership and referenced Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

The remarks came a day ahead of a White House summit on Monday, where President Zelensky is set to meet with Trump and several European leaders to address the ongoing conflict, now entering its fourth year. Trump referred to the meeting on Truth Social, describing it as a “big day at the White House” with numerous European officials present.

Zelensky, who arrived in Washington on Sunday, expressed appreciation for U.S. support in a post on X, emphasizing that any peace must be long-lasting. He criticized previous concessions, such as the loss of Crimea and parts of Donbas, which he argued allowed Russia to pursue further military actions. He also highlighted recent Ukrainian military gains in the Donetsk and Sumy regions and reaffirmed Kyiv’s commitment to defending its territory.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News’ Face the Nation that sustainable peace would require compromises from both Russia and Ukraine. While he did not detail the specific territorial concessions Ukraine might need to make, Rubio stressed that both sides would need to engage in practical and realistic negotiations.

Trump amplified the notion that Ukraine might need to make territorial concessions in a repost on Truth Social. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine surrender the remaining portions of Donetsk as part of a peace deal, offering in return to freeze fighting in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, according to Axios.

Zelensky said Kyiv might consider land swaps for peace but rejected ceding the entirety of Donetsk, including areas under Ukrainian control. He told reporters in Brussels that negotiations should start at current front lines and that Ukraine’s constitution prevents the surrender of its territory. Despite Russian advances, Kyiv retains control of key cities, including Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.