Zelenskyy in Washington: Russia must end the war it started

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Washington to meet US President Donald Trump and senior European leaders, saying that “Russia must end the war that it started.”

Speaking ahead of the high-stakes talks, Zelenskyy said he was grateful for Trump’s invitation and highlighted the need for a “quick and reliable” peace that would not repeat the compromises of the past.

He warned against any settlement that might force Ukraine to concede territory, pointing to the 2014 annexation of Crimea, the partial occupation of Donbas, and the failure of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum as examples of how Moscow had exploited earlier agreements.

“Of course, Crimea should never have been given up - just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odessa or Kharkiv after 2022. Ukrainians are fighting for their land and their independence,” he said, noting recent battlefield gains in Donetsk and Sumy regions.

European leaders, including those from Germany, France, the UK and Italy, are joining Zelenskyy in Washington to support him during discussions with Trump.