Zelensky in Washington: Will He Get What He Wants This Time?

Kokcha News Agency: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Washington for a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ahead of the talks, Trump reiterated that Ukraine’s return of Crimea or its NATO membership are “not on the table.” Zelensky, who has repeatedly rejected territorial concessions, is accompanied by a delegation of European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

In a social media post, Trump stated, “President Zelensky can end the war immediately if he wants, or he can keep fighting. Remember how it started. Obama gave away Crimea without firing a single shot (12 years ago!) and Ukraine didn’t join NATO. Some things never change!”

A Delicate Balancing Act
Experts suggest that Zelensky faces a delicate balancing act in his meeting with Trump. He must protect Ukraine’s interests while avoiding a confrontation with the U.S. president. The presence of European leaders in Washington is seen as a “balancing factor” to ensure the talks proceed cautiously. This meeting comes after a tense Oval Office encounter in February, where Trump accused Zelensky of “ingratitude.”

Security Guarantees
Last week, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that they had reached an agreement on “strong security guarantees” during their meeting in Alaska. Zelensky, in a statement in Brussels, described the proposed security guarantees as “historic.” Reports suggest that Trump is considering a collective defense model for Ukraine outside of NATO. French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Trump to clarify the extent of U.S. involvement in these guarantees.

Territorial Disputes
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has suggested that Moscow may offer “some concessions” regarding the five occupied regions, with detailed discussions on Donetsk expected on Monday. A European source told AFP that Trump is “positively inclined” toward Russia’s territorial claims in Donbas, which Moscow has not yet fully captured. In return, Moscow may agree to “freeze” the current frontlines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski warned, “Pressure for peace should be directed at the aggressor, not the victim.” Macron echoed this sentiment, stating, “There is only one state proposing a peace that amounts to surrender: Russia.”

While Zelensky has rejected territorial concessions, he has expressed openness to discussing the issue in a potential trilateral summit with Trump and Putin. However, Moscow currently views this possibility as unlikely.