U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines on Sunday by placing the responsibility for ending the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv squarely on the shoulders of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump asserted that Zelenskyy has the capability to conclude the war with Russia almost immediately if he chooses to do so. Alternatively, he can opt to continue the fight.
Trump's remarks echoed a sentiment that aligns with the demands of the Kremlin, which seeks recognition of its annexation of Crimea and insists that Ukraine should be excluded from the NATO alliance. He reflected on the origins of the conflict, stating, “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.” This highlights the complex historical context of the war, which began when Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014 and supported separatist movements in eastern Ukraine, actions that drew widespread condemnation from the international community.
The situation escalated further when Moscow initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump’s comments come ahead of a significant meeting scheduled for August 18 in Washington, D.C., which will include Zelenskyy and several European leaders. This meeting follows Trump's discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, which lasted three hours but did not yield a ceasefire agreement. Despite the lack of tangible results, Trump described the talks as productive.
According to reports, Trump informed Zelenskyy after his meeting with Putin that Moscow had proposed freezing most of the frontline positions in Ukraine. In exchange, Russia requested that Kyiv withdraw from the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Zelenskyy firmly rejected this proposal prior to the summit, arguing that it would compromise Ukraine's defensive capabilities and enable further Russian offensives. Currently, Ukraine maintains control over approximately one quarter of Donetsk, including its strategic stronghold known as the fortress belt of cities.
In a subsequent interview with Fox News following his meeting with Putin, Trump emphasized the need for Zelenskyy to negotiate a deal that would bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. He remarked, “Look, Russia is a very big power, and Ukraine is not. They're great soldiers,” underscoring the disparity in military strength between the two nations and the challenges facing Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression.
