Donald Trump has told Ukraine to give up hopes of getting back annexed Crimea or joining Nato as he prepares to host President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Washington to press Kyiv into accepting a peace deal with Russia.
After rolling out the red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Trump is leaning on Ukraine to accept a deal to end Europe's deadliest war in 80 years, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
Trump will meet Mr Zelensky and then the leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, the European Union and Nato on Monday, the White House said.
The European leaders are flying to Washington to show solidarity with Ukraine and to press for strong security guarantees in any post-war settlement.
It comes as the Ukrainian president condemned “demonstrative and cynical” strikes on his country overnight, which killed 10 people including an 18-month-old child.
“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,” Mr Zelensky posted on X.
On Monday morning, Downing Street insisted that the UK's position on Ukraine joining NATO had not changed.
“Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to the EU or Nato,” the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
Asked if Trump could have a veto, the spokesman repeated that "our position on Ukraine and Nato hasn't changed" and that Ukraine is on "irreversible path" to membership.
He added that No 10 is working "hand in glove" with Trump on Ukraine.
Monday’s White House meeting is an “important moment on the journey towards lasting peace”, he said and the security guarantees the US has signalled it is willing to provide are an “important aspect of the discussions”.
Trump's team stressed on Sunday that there had to be compromises by both Russia and Ukraine.
But Trump put the burden on Mr Zelensky to end the war that Russia began with its full-scale invasion in February 2022. That, along with his comments on Nato and Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014 during Barack Obama's presidency, suggested he would press Mr Zelensky hard at Monday's meeting.
Mr Zelensky “can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“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.”
Ukraine and its allies have long feared that Trump could press an agreement favourable to Moscow. However they have taken heart from some developments, including Trump's apparent willingness to provide post-settlement security guarantees for Ukraine.
However, Mr Zelensky has already all but rejected the outline of Putin's proposals from the Alaska meeting, including for Ukraine to give up the rest of its eastern Donetsk region, of which it currently controls a quarter.
Mr Zelensky is also seeking an immediate ceasefire to conduct deeper peace talks. Trump previously backed that but reversed course after the summit with Putin and indicated support for Russia's favoured approach of negotiating a comprehensive deal while fighting rumbles on.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday: “A big day at the White House. We have never had so many European Leaders here at one time. A great honor for America!!! Lets see what the results will be???”
Trump will meet first with Mr Zelensky at 1.15 p.m. EDT (6.15pm GMT) in the Oval Office and then with all the European leaders together in the White House's East Room at 3pm (8pm BST), the White House said.
The Ukrainian president, seeking to avoid a repeat of the bad-tempered Oval Office meeting he had with Trump in February, said after arriving in Washington late on Sunday he was grateful to Trump for the invitation.
“We all equally want to end this war swiftly and reliably,” Mr Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app. “Russia must end this war — the war it started. And I hope that our shared strength with America and with our European friends will compel Russia to real peace.”
Russia launched missiles and drones in overnight attacks that included strikes on Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv, near the Russian border, which killed 10 people, including two children, officials said.
"They hit an ordinary apartment block, many flats, many families were living here, small children, children's playground, residential compound, there are no offices here or anything else, we lived here peacefully in our homes," said Olena Yakusheva, a local resident, as firefighters battled a blaze in the building and rescue workers dug in the rubble.
The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russia launched 140 drones and fired four missiles overnight. It shot down 88.
In Odesa, a fuel and energy infrastructure facility was struck. Mr Zelensky said the attack was aimed at Ukraine's energy independence.
A further strike killed three people and injured 23 in the city of Zaporizhzhia, Ivan Fedorov, the region’s leader, said.
Kharkiv was also hit overnight and seven people, including an 18-month-old toddler and a 16-year-old were killed, regional head Oleh Syniehubov said.
On the battlefield Russia has been slowly grinding forward, pressing home its advantages in men and firepower. Putin says he is ready to continue fighting until his military objectives are achieved.
