US President Donald Trump has ruled out two major demands by Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of a crunch meeting on the Russian-Ukraine conflict at the White House today.
This includes the idea of Ukraine regaining Crimea in any agreement for peace.
The Eastern European peninsula, which sits on the northern coast of the Black Sea, is central to a more than 10 year-long war, having been occupied by Russia in 2014.
Mr Zelensky has previously insisted that he will not relinquish Crimea permanently to the Russians.
However, Mr Trump also said there will be "no going into Nato by Ukraine".
Ukraine's desire to join Nato has been a point of contention for over 15 years and something which Russia has consistently opposed for fear it would bring the alliance's forces too close to its borders.
The US President posted to Trump Social: "President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.
"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!!!"
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
President Zelensky accuses Russia of 'demonstrative and cynical' attack on Ukrainian city
The aftermath of strikes in Kharkiv, Ukraine
|REUTERS
Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of carrying out a "demonstrative and cynical" strike in Ukraine ahead of talks at the White House.
The Ukraine President said Russia was "aware a meeting is taking place in Washington that will address the end of the war".
He claimed seven people have been killed by a drone strike in the city of Kharkiv including a girl as young as one and a half years-old.
"Russians are deliberately killing people, particularly children," President Zelensky wrote to X.
He added: "The Russian war machine continues to destroy lives despite everything. Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts.
"That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings. That is why reliable security guarantees are required.
"That is why Russia should not be rewarded for its participation in this war. The war must be ended. And it is Moscow that must hear the word: 'Stop'."
Ukraine peace deal must be backed by 'ironclad security guarantees', says minister
Stephen Kinnock has said any Ukraine peace deal must be backed by "ironclad security guarantees".
The care minister told GB News: "It's a vitally important meeting and it's really good that the American President has made more progress on getting these talks started than anything we've seen since Putin's barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“But we have to ensure that any agreement that is reached, first of all, it has to be with the full agreement and acceptance of President Zelensky and his government and the Ukrainian people.
“Once that agreement is in place, it has to be underpinned by an ironclad security guarantee.
“President Putin has shown that he violates international agreements, left, right and centre, unless they're backed up by strong security guarantees.
“So that's why the European leaders and our prime minister Keir Starmer are going out, is to say, right what does that security guarantee look like? How do we ensure that any agreement that is reached is robust and credible?"
US Secretary of State shuts down claims European leaders joining President Zelensky at the White House to stop him being 'bullied'
US Secretary of State has Marco Rubio has rubbished the idea that European leaders are joining Volodymyr Zelensky at talks being held in Washington to stop him being "bullied".
In an interview with CBS, Mr Rubio was asked if he could offer reassurance to "concern from the European's" that the Ukrainian President was going to be "bullied" at the White House today.
He however quickly shut down the claim, saying it "not true" and branding it a "stupid media narrative".
"They're not coming here tomorrow to keep Zelensky from being bullied, Mr Rubio told CBS.
"They're coming here tomorrow because we’ve been working with the Europeans — we talked to them last week; there were meetings in the UK over the previous weekend."
Five killed in overnight Russian attack on Ukraine ahead of talks in Washington
Aftermath of the attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
|REUTERS
Ukraine's air force has said Russia launched four missiles and 140 drones during an overnight attack on the city of Kharkiv, just hours before today's crunch meeting on the conflict.
The air force added that it had shot down 88 drones and recorded hits in 25 locations across six Ukrainian regions.
Five people were killed and at least 19 recorded were injured, officials said.
In the city of Zaporizhzhia, another ballistic strike took place according to Andriy Yermak, head of the office of the President of Ukraine.
"Zaporizhzhia. Another Russian ballistic strike on our city, Mr Yermak wrote to X
"This is exactly why Putin doesn’t want a ceasefire — he enjoys shelling peaceful cities while talking about a supposed desire to end the war. So far, we see no such desire."
Britain will only support Ukraine giving up land if Volodymyr Zelensky agrees - care minister
Care minister Stephen Kinnock said President Zelensky must agree before 'any decisions' are made about Ukrainian land
|GETTY
Care minister Stephen Kinnock has said President Zelensky must agree before "any decisions" are made about Ukrainian territory.
Mr Kinnock explained that Sir Kier Starmer had three objectives for when he meets Donald Trump at the White House alongside the Ukraine President today.
"The first of all is to make it absolutely clear that any decisions taken about Ukrainian territory must be taken with the agreement of the Ukrainian government and President Zelensky, he told Times Radio.
“The other is that the pathway for Ukraine to Nato and to security guarantees cannot be dictated to them by any other country, and the other is to send a very clear message that we the British people stand firmly shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ukrainian people as we showed when we opened our homes and our hearts to the Ukrainian refugees.”
Volodymyr Zelensky hopeful 'joint strength' of key nations will force peace with Russia
Volodymyr Zelensky said his fellow European leaders and Donald Trump all share "a strong desire to end the war quickly and reliably" as he marks arrival in the US.
In a post to social media earlier this morning, the Ukraine President announced he had arrived in Washington ahead of talks later today.
He added that he was hopeful the "joint strength" with America and Europe would force Russia into "a real peace".
"I am confident that we will defend Ukraine, effectively guarantee security, and that our people will always be grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and every partner and ally for their support and invaluable assistance, Mr Zelensky wrote to X.
"Russia must end this war, which it itself started. And I hope that our joint strength with America, with our European friends, will force Russia into a real peace."
Who will be attending crunch meeting in Washington?
Sir Keir Starmer hosted Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street last week
|GETTY
- Sir Keir Starmer
- Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- President of Alexander Stubb
- Nato chief Mark Rutte
- European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen