Zelensky Heads to Washington as Trump Declares: “No NATO Membership for Ukraine”

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares for critical talks at the White House, former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited controversy by stating that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO as part of any peace deal with Russia.

Trump’s remarks came just hours before Zelensky’s scheduled arrival in Washington, following a recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The meeting, which excluded Ukrainian officials, reportedly ended with Trump calling for a permanent peace agreement rather than a ceasefire.

Fotoğraf: BBC

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Zelensky could end the war “almost instantly” if he chose to, but emphasized that NATO membership for Ukraine was off the table. He also reiterated that Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, was “not coming back.”

Meanwhile, European leaders—including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—are joining Zelensky in Washington for a series of high-level discussions. The goal: to present a united front and explore alternatives to NATO membership that could still offer Ukraine security guarantees.

Editorial Insight

The language of diplomacy is often wrapped in ambiguity, but the stakes here are painfully clear. Ukraine stands at a crossroads—not just between war and peace, but between sovereignty and compromise.

Trump’s declaration may resonate with some as pragmatic, yet for many Ukrainians, it echoes a deeper fear: that their future could be negotiated without their full consent. The absence of Ukrainian voices in the Alaska summit raises ethical questions about representation and justice in global diplomacy.

As Zelensky enters the White House, he carries not just political demands but the weight of a nation fighting for its identity. The world watches—will peace come at the cost of principle?

Source: BBC