President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could end the ongoing war with Russia "almost immediately" if he makes two significant concessions. In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that Zelensky could choose to halt the conflict or continue fighting. He reiterated that Ukraine should not seek to reclaim Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and should abandon its aspirations to join NATO, a demand long held by the Kremlin.

Trump's comments come just before a high-profile meeting scheduled for Monday at the White House, where Zelensky will meet with Trump and several European leaders to discuss the war that has persisted for over three years. Trump described the upcoming gathering as a significant event, noting, "Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!"

In response to Trump's remarks, Zelensky expressed gratitude for U.S. support but stressed the importance of achieving lasting peace. He tweeted, "I have already arrived in Washington. Tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably." Zelensky also highlighted the dangers of conceding territory to Russia, stating that previous compromises, such as the surrender of Crimea, only encouraged further aggression from Moscow.

Zelensky pointed out that peace must be enduring, contrasting it with past agreements that failed to prevent further conflict. He stated, "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."

Trump's comments align with those of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who noted that any lasting peace would require both Russia and Ukraine to make difficult compromises. Rubio remarked, "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."

During a recent summit in Alaska, Trump reportedly discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin the possibility of a ceasefire, but no agreement was reached. Trump indicated that Putin had offered to freeze the front lines in exchange for Ukraine withdrawing from certain eastern regions, a proposal Zelensky rejected, fearing it would compromise Ukraine's defensive positions.

Zelensky has maintained that while Ukraine is open to negotiations, it will not concede any territory to Russia. He stated, "We need real negotiations, which means they can start where the front line is now. The contact line is the best line for talking."

As the situation develops, European leaders are joining Zelensky in Washington to ensure a unified stance against Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for strength in negotiations, warning that any perceived weakness could lead to future conflicts.

Despite the ongoing discussions, Secretary of State Rubio cautioned that a peace agreement remains distant, stating, "We’re not at the precipice of a peace agreement. We made progress in the sense that we identified potential areas of agreement, but there remain some big areas of disagreement."

The upcoming meeting at the White House is expected to address these complex issues as leaders seek a resolution to the conflict.