Trump Reveals the Two Things Zelensky Can Do to End the War ‘Almost Immediately’

President Donald Trump said Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could end the war with Russia “almost immediately” if Ukraine is willing to make two major concessions.

In a late-night post on Truth Social, Trump called for Ukraine to abandon its pursuit of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), a position long opposed by Moscow.

He also stated there would be “no getting back” Crimea, referring to Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014 under the Obama administration.

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“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!!!” Trump wrote.

🚨 BREAKING: President Trump tells Zelensky – NO NATO membership, and NO re-claiming Crimea from Russia.

“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… pic.twitter.com/qOwNQBi6G0

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 18, 2025

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Trump’s comments came on the eve of a major White House summit scheduled for Monday, where he is set to host Zelensky along with multiple European leaders to discuss possible steps toward ending the conflict that has entered its fourth year.

“Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!! President DJT,” Trump posted earlier in the day.

TOMORROW, POTUS hosts:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
French President Emmanuel Macron
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Finnish President Alexander Stubb
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte
European Commission President Ursula von… pic.twitter.com/jxenkPizt8

— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) August 18, 2025

Ahead of the meeting, Zelensky announced his arrival in Washington and expressed gratitude to the United States for its ongoing support.

Posting to X on Sunday evening, Zelensky also emphasized the importance of ensuring any agreement results in long-term stability.

“I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably,” Zelensky wrote.

The Ukrainian leader also addressed the issue of Crimea, saying that its loss had set the stage for Russia’s subsequent full-scale invasion.

“And peace must be lasting. Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East—part of Donbas—and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack. Or when Ukraine was given so called ‘security guarantees’ in 1994, but they didn’t work,” Zelensky posted.

“Crimea should not have been given up then, just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022. Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence,” he continued.

Zelensky added that Ukrainian forces were making gains in Donetsk and Sumy and said, “I am confident that we will defend Ukraine, effectively guarantee security, and that our people will always be grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and every partner and ally for their support and invaluable assistance. Russia must end this war, which it itself started.”

I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting. Not…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 18, 2025

The remarks from Trump and Zelensky followed comments from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told CBS News’ Face the Nation that any durable settlement would require both sides to compromise.

“What it’s going to take to stop the fighting, if we’re being honest and serious here, is both sides are going to have to give, and both sides should expect to get something from this,” Rubio said.

“It’s very difficult because Ukraine obviously feels, you know, harmed, and rightfully so, because they were invaded. And the Russian side, because they feel like they got momentum in the battlefield.”

.@SecRubio nukes Margaret Brennan: “This is such a stupid media narrative that [European leaders] are coming here tomorrow because Trump is going to bully Zelensky into a bad deal. We’ve been working with these people for weeks… WE invited them to come.” 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YoiyyA3xsp

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 17, 2025

On Sunday, Trump also reposted another user’s comment suggesting that Ukraine would ultimately have to make territorial concessions to Russia in order to secure peace.

During a summit in Alaska last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender the remaining quarter of Donetsk, a region rich in minerals and home to many Russian-speaking residents.

In return, he offered to freeze hostilities along the contested fronts in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, according to reporting from Axios.

Zelensky responded in Brussels on Sunday, saying Kyiv could consider negotiations tied to current front lines, but rejected Russia’s demand to hand over the entire Donetsk region.

“We need real negotiations, which means they can start where the front line is now. The contact line is the best line for talking,” he said.

“Russia is still unsuccessful in the Donetsk region. Putin has been unable to take it for 12 years, and the Constitution of Ukraine makes it impossible to give up territory or trade land.”

Ukraine continues to hold key strongholds in Donetsk, including the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, where fighting has remained intense.

Despite Russia’s control of large areas across multiple regions, Ukrainian forces have prevented Moscow from seizing the entirety of Donetsk after more than three years of full-scale war.

Military analysts warn that transferring the heavily fortified region to Russia could expose Ukraine to deeper future incursions, given Donetsk’s position as a potential launch point for further offensives.