Trump Sends Message to Zelenskyy Before Meeting: Ukraine and NATO, Key Points

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has conveyed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine cannot join NATO, ahead of their scheduled meeting. Trump stated that Zelenskyy could choose to end the war with Russia swiftly or continue the conflict. This message was posted on Truth Social, where he referred to how the conflict began, mentioning that the Obama administration couldn’t recover Crimea and that Ukraine would not be part of NATO. This announcement came before a meeting in Washington involving American, Ukrainian, and European leaders. Trump previously met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15. Trump noted that the meeting didn’t contribute to stopping the Ukraine war and instead favored a peace agreement over a ceasefire. Trump mentioned that Putin is ready for negotiations, and the choice lies with Zelenskyy. The meeting in Washington would also have the attendance of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British PM Keir Starmer. After the Alaska summit, the White House confirmed that Trump engaged in a lengthy conversation with Zelenskyy and also spoke with NATO leaders.