Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Russia should not be “rewarded” for his invasion, a few hours before his meeting in Washington on Monday with Donald Trump, who wants to push kyiv to territorial concessions.
Putin will commit murders to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts.
Ukraine shares The deep desire to end this war quickly
said the Ukrainian leader the day before, adding that Peace had to be sustainable
.
I hope that our joint strength with America, with our European friends, will contrast Russia to real peace
he said.
Several European leaders will be present in Washington to support kyiv’s position, summoned by the American president to accept concessions after his summit with Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska, which did not stop fighting in Ukraine.
The French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President, was expected to be expected.Take Mark Rutte and the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
Russian strike site by drone, as part of the attack on Russia against Ukraine, in Kharkiv, August 18, 2025.
Photo: via Reuters / Press Service of the National Service for Ukraine Emergency Situations
A few hours before this meeting, the first in this format since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Russia maintains pressure on the ground.
Moscow pulled some 140 drones and 4 ballistic missiles on Sunday to Monday, the Ukrainian Air Force announced.
A Russian drone shot left seven dead and injured in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, according to local authorities.
Two people were killed in Ukrainian strikes in the Kherson and Donetsk regions, of which important parties are under the control of the Russian troops, according to the occupation authorities.
The meeting in Washington should make it possible to tackle possible territorial concessions and security guarantees, to end the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
Trump puts the pressure on Zelensky
Ukrainian President Zelensky can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants, or he can continue to fight.
President Trump has published a series of messages on his network Truth Social Where he put pressure on the Ukrainian leader to give up some of his requirements.
No question
for kyiv to recover control of the Crimea annexed by Moscow in 2014 or to enter theTakewarned the billionaire.
The Ukrainian President will first head on head with Mr. Trump from 1 p.m. The various European leaders will then join them.
His last visit to the White House dates back to February 28. He was then reprimanded and publicly humiliated in the oval office by Donald Trump and his vice-president JD Vance, who had reproached him for his lack of recognition for American support.
In addition to the question of the Crimea mentioned explicitly on Sunday by Donald Trump, an official in the event of telephone exchanges on Saturday between the American president and European leaders said to theAFP That he supported a proposal from Moscow according to which kyiv would give in the regions of Donetsk and Louhansk (east), and the front would be frozen in those of Kherson and Zaporijia (South).
The American emissary Steve Witkoff assured that Moscow had done Some concessions
territorial concerning Five regions
Ukrainian, citing only An important discussion on Donetsk
region which constitutes the military priority of the Kremlin.
Security guarantees at the heart of discussions
The question of security guarantees offered in kyiv in exchange for a compromise should occupy a central place during Monday discussions.
When he returned from Alaska, where he welcomed Vladimir Putin with great fanfare, Donald Trump spoke of the track of a collective safety clause inspired by article 5 of theTakeapart from the framework of the Atlantic Alliance, considered by Moscow as an existential threat.
According to Emmanuel Macron, Europeans will ask Mr. Trump to what extent
It will join the security guarantees.
The American president has suggested a tripartite summit with MM. Putin and Zelensky, if It all works well
When he receives the Ukrainian leader.
In the event of a failure of talks, the head of American diplomacy, Marco Rubio, warned that Washington could take on new sanctions
against Moscow.
China said on Monday hoping for an agreement acceptable to all parties as soon as possible
.
The Kremlin, which has the advantage on the front, is accused by kyiv and its allies of playing the watch by maintaining maximalist requests.
