On June 27, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington, he met with US President Donald Trump and European leaders. On the same day, Russia launched missile strikes on residential areas in Kharkiv and an educational institution in Sumy, coinciding with the important negotiations in the US.
This move highlights Russia's intent to influence the meeting's agenda. President Trump has stated that Crimea will not return to Ukraine and that NATO membership for Ukraine is currently off the table — a stance that concerns Ukrainian authorities and European partners.
Zelensky asserted that Ukraine will not surrender new territories, but legal nuances remain regarding the temporarily occupied regions. So far, the United States has not formally accepted Russia's tough proposals, and the possible freezing of the conflict remains under discussion.
The article points to the historic lesson that the international community's insufficient response to the 2014 annexation of Crimea contributed to the current geopolitical situation. Today's negotiations in the Oval Office could prove decisive for Ukraine and the world, as sovereignty protection remains a central issue.
