Donald Trump announced a critical condition for President Zelensky before their meeting, stating that the U.S. does not support Ukraine’s war actions, thereby meeting Russian demands, while political analyst Steve Witkoff suggests a potential workaround.
Trump Declares ‘No’ to Ukraine in NATO
On Monday, Aug. 18, Donald Trump is scheduled to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky. During that day, the U.S. President posted a statement noting that Ukraine could “end the war with Russia almost immediately if it wishes, or it can continue fighting.” The Republican highlighted that there is “no talk” about Ukraine’s accession to NATO. “Some things never change,” the politician wrote. It is worth recalling that Kyiv’s potential entry into the Alliance had been meant to guarantee security against another Russian attack.
Alternative to NATO’s Article 5 for Ukraine?
Special envoy Steve Witkoff reported in CNN that following the U.S. President’s meeting with Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader agreed to a “breakthrough” security guarantee for Ukraine, entailing joint defense by the U.S. and Europe should Moscow launch another attack. According to the analyst, this clause resembles Article 5 of NATO, which calls for a joint response to armed actions against an ally. CNN reported that Witkoff assessed the guarantee as “a way to sidestep Russia’s demand that Ukraine never join NATO.”
Zelensky Already in the USA
President Zelensky has already arrived in Washington, where the first meeting with Donald Trump is to take place, followed by discussions with European leaders to address ending the war in Ukraine. Participants include French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “I hope that our combined strength with America and our European friends will force Russia into a genuine peace,” the Ukrainian president wrote.
Russia Continues to Attack Ukraine
Earlier this morning, Russians attacked Kharkiv using a ballistic missile and drones. One unmanned aircraft struck a multi‑story residential building, resulting in at least seventeen wounded and three fatalities, including a two‑year‑old boy. The missile attack also injured at least eleven people. The Russian Defense Ministry claims that on the night of Aug. 17 to 18 at 6:00 a.m. Moscow time, air‑defense systems intercepted and destroyed 23 Ukrainian drones. More details about the war can be found in the article: “Ukrainian deputy warned about Putin: He wants to rebuild the USSR. ‘Poland is threatened’” (https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/…)
