Donald Trump has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “almost immediately,” suggesting responsibility for peace lies in Kyiv rather than Moscow. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday morning, cited by 9News, hours before his scheduled White House meeting with Zelenskyy, the US president wrote: “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.” The comments implied that Zelenskyy would need to accept ceding Crimea, which Russia an

Donald Trump has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “almost immediately,” suggesting responsibility for peace lies in Kyiv rather than Moscow. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday morning, cited by

9News,

hours before his scheduled White House meeting with Zelenskyy, the US president wrote: “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.” The comments implied that Zelenskyy would need to accept ceding Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 despite it being part of Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders. Trump also insisted Ukraine would never join NATO, despite Zelenskyy’s longstanding push for membership. “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. The war, launched by Russia more than three years ago, has killed and injured hundreds of thousands. A study released in June estimated that Russian forces had suffered nearly one million military casualties, including about 250,000 deaths. Ukraine’s toll stood at close to 400,000, with between 60,000 and 100,000 deaths. Tens of thousands of civilians have also been killed or wounded. Trump’s remarks come just two days after his high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the United States. That meeting, marked by red-carpet treatment for the Russian leader, concluded without a ceasefire or peace plan and left many observers questioning what concessions, if any, Putin had made. Trump has defended the summit, while his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told

CNN

that Moscow had offered a breakthrough pledge. “We were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO,” Witkoff said. He described it as “game-changing” and added, “It’s the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that.” Zelenskyy is now preparing for his second White House meeting with Trump this year. Unlike his first visit, when he was publicly ambushed by Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office, this time he will be joined by a group of prominent European leaders.

The last talks between Trump and Zelensky ended in Zelensky's frustration (File: AP via 9News)

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and leaders from Italy, Finland, NATO, and the European Union are all expected to accompany him to Washington. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also weighed in, saying his government would consider a request to contribute troops to any potential United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. However, he stressed such discussions were still premature. “We know that Mr Putin has designs on not just Ukraine,” Albanese told

Sky News.

“The concern is certainly there, and there is certainly a lack of trust between Mr Putin and European and other leaders of democracies. “We stand with Ukraine, we want to see peace in the region. Ukraine must, of course, not have a solution imposed on it. They need to be a part of those negotiations.”

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