Washington/Kiev (dpa-AfX)-Shortly before a meeting in the White House on the Ukraine War, US President Donald Trump put pressure on Ukrainian head of state Wolodymyr Selenskyj. In a post on his platform Truth Social, Trump did not turn to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin As an attacker, but wrote: “The Ukrainian President Selenskyj can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants, or he can continue to fight”.
In the same breath, the Republican also declared the hoped-for NATO accession of Ukraine and a return of the Black Sea Peninsula Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. “Some things never change !!!”, he wrote. He pointed out that the then US President Barack Obama the annexation of the Crimea in 2014 did not prevent. He added in capital letters: “No NATO joining Ukraine.” The Russian army flew new air raids to Ukraine during the night.
Two top meetings: first Selenskyj, then also the Europeans
In two top meetings in the White House, Trump wants to talk to Ukraine and the European allies about starting a rapid peace process today from 7.15 p.m. It is about suggestions about which Trump and Putin spoke in Alaska at their summit last Friday. The US President initially wants to speak to Selenskyj alone – a scenario that is reminiscent of the ominous encounter at the end of February when Trump and his vice JD Vance fell over the Ukrainian president.
Only then is a round with the top European politicians, which accompanies Selenskyj to the US capital. These include Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), France President Emmanuel Macron, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Depending on the course, the day could be an intermediate step towards a possible third party – then between Russia and Ukraine.
Should Ukraine clear the rest of Donbass?
According to the German Federal Government, among other things, “security guarantees, territorial questions and the ongoing support of Ukraine in the defense against Russian aggression should be spoken. Security guarantees mean measures to protect a country from attacks.
Regarding the territorial questions: Since the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin, unconfirmed media reports have increased that the US President sees the opportunity for a quick peace agreement if Ukraine leaves Russia to the entire Donbass. This also includes strategically important areas that Russian armed forces have so far not been able to control. Selenskyj categorically rejected this. “Russia has to end this war that it started,” he wrote after arriving in Washington on the platform X.
Security guarantees at the center of the talks
At the same time, the scenario of a NATO-like promise of protection in the United States and European countries will go to Ukraine. According to the US specialist Steve Witkoff, Russia approved security guarantees based on the example of Article 5 in the NATO contract-what Putin should receive from the USA, Ukraine or Europe was initially unclear.
Article 5 of the NATO contract states that “an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America will be regarded as an attack against them all”. Russia’s invasion of 2022 did not fall into this category because Ukraine is not a NATO member. In contrast to Article 5, the scenario discussed would not step in to the entire Atlantic alliance – the United States and European countries would instead be obliged to do so.
German Foreign Minister carefully for troops
It is unclear what a military component of Europeans could look like. The German Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) skeptically commented on a possible sending of German soldiers to Ukraine. This would “probably also overwhelm”, said the CDU politician in the podcast “Table.Today”. The preparation of a powerful German brigade in Baltic Nato member country Lithuania to protect against Russia is urgent. “Which does not mean that in a different way we can also support Ukraine militarily and technically.”
The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Oleksii Makeieev, called security guarantees similar to Article 5. Direct NATO membership for Ukraine would of course be the best security guarantee, he said on Deutschlandfunk. NATO could offer his country a lot, you have a strong and fighting army. “But you need courage from the side of our partners and also pressure on Russia,” said Makeieev. Without pressure, Putin “won’t stop killing us”.
Dead and injured by Russian air strikes
The night before the top talks in Washington, the Russian army again attacked Ukraine with combat drones and rockets. At least seven people were killed in the city of Charkiw and 20 injured. According to Mayor Ihor Terechow on Telegram, four Russian combat drones hit a multi -storey residential building.
In the morning, rockets also met the big city of Saporischschja. The aim was the city’s infrastructure, explained the area of the area of the area, Iwan Fedorow. There were at least 3 three dead and 20 injuries. “This is exactly why Putin does not want ceasefire – he likes to shoot peaceful cities while he talks about the alleged wish for the end of the war,” commented Selenskyj’s staff chief Andryj Jermak on X./FKO/DP/NAS