DONALD Trump has said Ukraine can end the war “immediately” as European leaders assemble today in Washington for high-stakes peace talks.
The world leaders are expected to map out a Ukraine peace deal as Russia continues its campaign of deadly strikes against Ukraine.
APA Ukrainian howitzer firing at Russian positions[/caption]
GettyVolodymyr Zelensky speaking at the EU Commission headquarter yesterday[/caption]
AFPUS President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they pose on a podium on the tarmac after arrival at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson base[/caption]
PA
European leader met with Zelensky ahead of the talks with Trump and Putin[/caption]
An overnight Russian drone strike on Kharkiv killed three people, including a child, and wounded more than a dozen others, Ukrainian authorities said Monday.
Russian strikes also pummelled the Sumy region, near the border, injuring two civilians.
It comes just two days after Trump rolled out red carpets and flew a B-2 bomber to greet Vladimir Putin at Alaska for historic peace talks.
Though the summit, which Trump hoped would make Russia inch towards a breakthrough ceasefire, appeared to be an utter failure in the eyes of Ukraine – and Europe.
With no peace deal, Trump and Zelensky are now expected to meet one-on-one before being joined by a cohort of European leaders today.
Top agenda will be to discuss the future of Ukraine and a possible end to the bloody war.
Ahead of the crucial summit, Trump said that Zelensky can “end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight”.
However, he added that Ukraine will not get back Crimea, something Kyiv is already willing to give up if it means lasting peace.
Kyiv is also set to be forced to abandon its dream of formally joining Nato, but is desperately seeking future guarantees for its remaining territory.
America has now confirmed that Ukraine will be offered Nato-esque protection and will step in if Putin strikes again in future.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that following Mr Trump’s talks with Putin: “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.”
Nato’s Article 5 states an attack on one member is considered an attack on all — and allies must come to its defence.
Witkoff said the move would be “game-changing” as it was the “first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that”.
The meeting will be joined by Sir Keir, the leaders of France, Germany and Italy, alongside the heads of Nato and the EU in a firm show of solidarity against the Russians.
It will be the first time Zelensky visits Washington since a bust-up with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in February, when the two men berated the Ukrainian leader for being “ungrateful”.
Swathes of eastern Ukraine are on the negotiating table as the leaders discuss how to stop the Russian aggression once and for all.
But Zelensky yesterday said territory haggling could only be discussed “by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia” at his expected showdown with Putin.
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