Trump Says Zelensky Can End War With Russia ‘Almost Immediately’
President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has the ability to end the war with Russia “almost immediately” if he chooses to pursue peace. The comments come just hours before Trump is set to host Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House for a high-stakes meeting aimed at moving negotiations forward.
Trump, fresh off a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, emphasized that the path forward lies in a direct peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire. Writing on Truth Social, he noted, “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. Remember how it started. 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!!!”
In the run-up to the White House talks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that concessions from both sides are inevitable. “There are things Russia wants that it cannot get and there are things Ukraine wants it’s not going to get,” Rubio said in a Sunday interview. “Both sides are going to have to give up something in order to get to the table in order to make this happen. That’s just the way it is. The sooner we accept that, that’s the reality.”
Zelensky, arriving in Washington on Sunday, struck a measured but optimistic tone. He wrote on X that “we all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably,” adding that Ukraine’s people would always be grateful to Trump, America, and allied nations for their support. “Russia must end this war, which it itself started,” he insisted.
The history between Trump and Zelensky is marked by sharp exchanges. Their last White House meeting ended in tension after Zelensky was asked to leave following clashes with both Trump and Vice President JD Vance. At the time, Trump warned that the Ukrainian leader was “gambling with World War III” and being disrespectful to U.S. contributions.
This week’s gathering will bring Zelensky face-to-face not only with Trump but also with French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen. The administration is signaling that the Alaska meeting with Putin and the upcoming White House discussions could be decisive in determining whether a workable peace plan can be forged after more than three years of war.