United States President, Donald Trump, has expressed the belief that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may be prepared to relinquish Crimea to Russia as part of a potential peace settlement, despite Kyiv’s consistent refusal to accept any territorial losses.
Speaking to reporters, Trump was asked whether he believed Zelensky was ready to give up the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed illegally in 2014. He replied, “I think so.”
Trump further called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal” to bring an end to the ongoing conflict, suggesting such an agreement could be finalized within two weeks.
The remarks came after Trump’s return from the Vatican, where he had a short meeting with Zelensky during events surrounding Pope Francis’ funeral.
Trump described the conversation with Zelensky as having “gone well,” mentioning that Crimea was discussed “very briefly.” He added that Zelensky appeared “calmer” — a comment possibly alluding to their previous public confrontation at the White House in February.
Ukraine has consistently maintained that any discussion about territorial issues can only occur after a ceasefire is reached, firmly opposing any concessions beforehand.
Both Zelensky and Putin have yet to respond publicly to Trump’s latest statements.
Earlier on Sunday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius advised Ukraine against accepting any peace deal involving broad territorial concessions.
Speaking to German public broadcaster ARD, Pistorius warned that Kyiv “should not go as far as the latest proposal by the American president,” describing it as “a capitulation.”
Pistorius acknowledged that Ukraine might eventually have to negotiate over some land but insisted, “they will certainly not go as far — or should not go as far — as the latest proposal by the American president.”
He added, “Ukraine could have got a year ago what was included in that proposal, it is akin to a capitulation. I cannot discern any added value.”
Last week, Trump claimed that “most of the major points [of the deal] are agreed to.” According to reports, Ukraine might be pressured to surrender substantial areas under Russian occupation, including Crimea.
While the BBC has not obtained the full text of the U.S. proposal, Reuters reported that Washington’s plan would legally recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea and grant de facto acknowledgment of Russian control over other occupied areas like the Luhansk region.
Reuters also detailed counter-proposals from Ukraine and European powers, under which discussions about occupied territories would only begin after a ceasefire.
Additional elements of the U.S. plan reportedly include barring Ukraine from joining NATO and establishing a UK- and France-led “coalition of the willing” to offer security guarantees, without the United States directly participating.
In contrast, European nations are said to demand “robust” U.S. security guarantees resembling NATO commitments.
Furthermore, Washington’s proposal involves taking operational control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to supply power to both Ukraine and Russia, an idea absent from the European and Ukrainian counter-proposals.
In an interview with Time magazine earlier this week, Trump again blamed Ukraine for instigating the conflict by seeking NATO membership, telling Time, “Crimea will stay with Russia.”
On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also pressed for a swift agreement, telling NBC, “It needs to happen soon. We cannot continue to dedicate time and resources to this effort if it’s not going to come to fruition.”
The Biden administration recently warned that the U.S. may pull out of the talks if meaningful progress is not achieved.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, with Moscow currently occupying nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory.
