Ukraine sees NATO as protection and a path to Western integration, for Russia Ukraine in NATO is a direct threat to its security, influence, and regional power. This tension over NATO is one of the central drivers of the ongoing war between the two countries
Ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump said that Kyiv can “end the war with Russia almost immediately” but it must abandon dreams of a NATO membership and bringing Crimea back to Ukraine.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social
“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 added.
NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation—a military alliance formed in 1949 after World War II, mainly to provide collective defence against the threat of the erstwhile Soviet Union.
Trump’s “No getting back Obama given Crimea,” is a criticism of former President Barack Obama’s response to Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy
A day after US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held high-level talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday talked peace and “readiness to work with maximum effort” to achieve that.
The Ukraine President will be in Washington DC on Monday the question is will he comply to the conditions that seem an absolute victory for Putin
Victory for Putin?
This is practically what Putin wanted
Ukraine’s desire to join NATO and Russia’s resistance to it are rooted in deep historical, political, and security concerns
Ukraine sees NATO as protection and a path to Western integration, Russia sees Ukraine in NATO as a direct threat to its security, influence, and regional power. The tension over Ukraine and NATO is one of the central drivers of the ongoing war.
Before the Alaska summit, the Europeans had tried to establish with Trump in joint consultations five points for possible peace talks, including a ceasefire and security guarantees.
According to Zelenskyy, it was important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America.
Ahead of the meeting with Putin, Trump has repeatedly spoken about Ukraine and Russia swapping land to end the war.
His ambition to win the Nobel peace Prize is well known. Recently he also said he might “have to start liking” his political rival Hillary Clinton after she suggested she would nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize if he successfully brokered a deal between Russia and Ukraine.
The question is will Zelenskyy agree to the conditions?
The Crimea angle
Crimea’s annexation marked the beginning of open Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is also a core issue in the war, and its future will heavily influence any eventual peace settlement.
In 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, one of its goals was to secure a land corridor from Russia to Crimea via southeastern Ukraine (Donetsk, Mariupol, etc.) and protect it militarily from any potential Ukrainian counterattack.
Crimea remains a red line for Russia, Putin has said he will never return it. For Ukraine, retaking Crimea is a major war aim.
Almost all countries (including the UN) consider Crimea to be illegally occupied by Russia.
