Donald Trump said he believes Ukraine may give up Crimea and urged Vladimir Putin to stop the violence after Zelensky meeting at funeral.
President Donald Trump has made controversial comments regarding Ukraine’s stance on Crimea.
He stated that he believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might be willing to give up the territory to achieve peace with Russia.
This statement has sparked a lot of discussions about the ongoing conflict and Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Meeting between Trump and Zelensky at Pope Francis’ funeral
Trump’s remarks followed a meeting between him and Zelensky at Pope Francis’s funeral.
This was their first in-person meeting since a challenging summit at the White House in February.
During their conversation, Trump claimed they briefly talked about Crimea, a region that has been a major point of dispute between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop shooting” and sign a peace agreement to end the war.
He expressed a desire for a deal that would bring an end to the violence that has affected many lives in Ukraine.
‘I want him to stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal,’ Trump said Sunday when asked what he wanted from Putin.
‘We have the confines of a deal, I believe, and I want him to sign it.’
Zelensky’s firm stance on Crimea
Despite Trump’s comments, Zelensky has remained firm about Ukraine’s position on Crimea.
The Ukrainian leader has emphasized that Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine and that only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide its fate.
He reiterated that Ukraine will not recognize any territories that are temporarily occupied.
Zelensky stated, “Our position is unchanged: all temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine.”
‘The Constitution of Ukraine states that all temporarily occupied territories are temporarily occupied. They all belong to Ukraine, to the Ukrainian people,’ he said.
‘Ukraine will not legally recognize any temporarily occupied territories. I think this is an absolutely fair position.
‘It is legal not only from the point of view of the Constitution of Ukraine, but also from the point of view of international law.’
Russia demands recognition of Crimea’s ownership.
Russia has indicated its willingness to negotiate with Ukraine. However, they have set preconditions that include the recognition of Russia’s claims over Crimea and other regions.
Russian officials have made it clear that these conditions are essential for any peace talks to progress.
Experts warn that Trump’s proposed peace plan, which may involve recognizing Russian control over Crimea, could have serious legal and political implications.
Lawmakers in Ukraine have expressed that such a concession would undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and could be viewed as treasonous.
Ongoing conflict and violence
The conflict in Ukraine has continued to escalate since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its invasion in 2022.
The war has resulted in significant destruction and loss of life, with tens of thousands of casualties reported.
Zelensky’s government has called for security guarantees to ensure that Russia does not resume hostilities in the future.
Zelensky had previously shared a list of ceasefire violations committed by Russia to emphasize the challenges of negotiating peace.
Despite Trump’s efforts to mediate, the situation remains tense, with ongoing military actions on both sides.
U.S. may reconsider mediation if negotiations stall.
Trump has indicated that the U.S. may reconsider its role as a mediator if there is no rapid progress in negotiations.
He mentioned that he would give the process about two weeks to see if any advancements could be made.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the importance of the coming week, stating that although they are close to a deal, more work is needed.
‘We’re close, but we’re not close enough’ to a deal to halt the fighting, Rubio told broadcaster NBC. ‘I think this is going to be a very critical week.’
Both the U.S. and Ukraine are frustrated with the lack of progress in achieving peace.
The fighting continues to devastate regions in eastern Ukraine, and Russian officials have made statements about their readiness to negotiate, yet the conditions they set complicate the process.