'No going into Nato by Ukraine,' says Trump as Zelensky prepares for White House talks

August 18, 2025

President Trump has stated that Ukrainian President Zelensky could end the Russia-Ukraine war immediately, claiming that any peace deal would exclude Ukraine joining NATO and regaining Crimea. These remarks followed Trump's summit with Putin where he abandoned ceasefire demands in favor of pushing for a permanent peace agreement. Trump's comments come amid deadly Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities that killed at least 10 people just before Zelensky's White House visit, where European leaders including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will also participate in talks about Ukraine's future.

Who is affected

Ukrainian citizens (including those killed in recent attacks in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia)
President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian government
Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine (approximately one-fifth of the country)
European allies and NATO members
The United States government and diplomacy
Populations in areas contested by Russia (Donetsk, Luhansk, and other regions)

What action is being taken

President Trump is hosting Zelensky and multiple European leaders at the White House for talks on Ukraine's future
Russian forces are continuing military strikes on Ukrainian cities and advancing on the battlefield
European leaders are presenting a "united front" in negotiations with Trump
The "coalition of the willing" (including UK, France, and Germany) is engaging in diplomatic efforts to protect peace in Ukraine
Ukrainian officials are advocating for effective security guarantees from allies
Trump administration officials are conducting diplomatic negotiations with Russia

Why it matters

The future of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is at stake
A potential peace deal could reshape European security architecture and NATO's role
Trump's position contradicts previous NATO agreements on Ukraine's "irreversible path" to membership
The outcome affects the lives of millions of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation
The unprecedented gathering of European leaders for this crisis meeting underscores the high stakes
Any agreement could set precedents for how international borders and security guarantees function

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC