"No Going Into NATO By Ukraine": Trump Ahead Of Meeting Zelensky

US President Donald Trump, ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, asserted that the Ukrainian leader can end the war with Russia "if he wants to". Trump also cited the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 under the Obama administration, while ruling out Ukraine's inclusion in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - something that Russia has been opposing.

"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!!!," he wrote on Truth Social.

In another post, Trump said it will be a "big day at the White House" as European and NATO leaders will be joining Zelensky for a meeting with the US President.

"Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honour to host them," he said.

Trump on "fake news"

The US President slammed reports of "major defeat" during his meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week - after he failed to draw a ceasefire deal in the Ukraine war. Calling out the "fake news", the Republican leader said the location of the summit was a "major point of contention".

"The Fake News has been saying for 3 days that I suffered a "major defeat" by allowing President Vladimir Putin of Russia to have a major Summit in the United States. Actually, he would have loved doing the meeting anywhere else but the US and the Fake News knows this. It was a major point of contention! If we had the Summit elsewhere, the Democrat run and controlled media would have said what a terrible thing THAT was," he wrote on Truth Social.

"These people are sick!" Trump added.

Trump also criticised the Democrats, claiming they "want crime" in the cities "under their control".

"They even want CRIME IN DC, and other BLUE Cities throughout our Country, but don't worry, I won't let that happen. Just like our now secure Southern Border (ZERO illegals in last 3 months!), our cities will be Secure and Safe, and DC will lead the way!" he said.

Trump Putin meet

Trump and his Russian counterpart met in Alaska on Friday, pointing to areas of agreement and rekindling a friendship but offering no news on a ceasefire. After an abrupt ending to three hours of talks with aides, Trump, who is fond of calling himself a master deal-maker, said, "We're not there yet, but we've made progress. There's no deal until there's a deal."

He, however, called the meeting "very productive".

According to Trump, the onus was now on Zelensky to build on the Alaska summit and secure a deal to end Russia's three-year invasion.

"Now it's really up to President Zelensky to get it done. And I would also say the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit, but it's up to President Zelensky," Trump said.