WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump is intensifying pressure on Ukraine to accept terms that would end the war with Russia, urging Kyiv to give up its claim to Crimea and abandon its aspirations for NATO membership — positions that echo Moscow’s longstanding demands.

Trump is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today, joined by European leaders, in what is being described as the most consequential meeting yet in his accelerated bid to broker peace. The White House summit is seen as a pivotal moment for European security and a major test of both the Western alliance and Trump’s ability to chart a viable path toward ending the conflict sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion.

The talks come just two days after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a meeting that drew widespread criticism outside the administration and among U.S. allies. Observers noted Trump warmly welcomed Putin — who faces allegations of war crimes — while offering symbolic and procedural concessions in exchange for limited commitments from Moscow.

As Trump attempts to position himself as a dealmaker, analysts warn that any agreement forcing Ukraine to surrender territory or its NATO ambitions risks alienating Kyiv and undermining Western unity against Russia’s aggression.