Trump's perspective on Ukraine's potential concession of Crimea to Russia

US President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might be willing to relinquish Crimea to Russia as part of a potential ceasefire agreement. This statement came as discussions on a truce entered a crucial week. Trump also increased his pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to "stop shooting" and sign a deal to end the ongoing war that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Trump made these remarks after meeting Zelensky at Pope Francis' funeral, where the two leaders broke the ice following tensions between the US and Ukraine in February. When asked about Zelensky’s readiness to "give up" Crimea, Trump responded affirmatively, despite Zelensky’s repeated claims that he would not surrender the territory. Trump acknowledged that during their Vatican talks, they briefly touched on the future of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

The 78-year-old US president, who once claimed he could end the war within a day of taking office, has actively sought diplomatic efforts to end the conflict since his inauguration. However, the US has become increasingly frustrated with Putin's actions. Following the Vatican meeting, Russia launched drone and missile strikes, killing four people and injuring many more in eastern Ukraine.

Trump stated that he wanted Putin to cease hostilities and agree to a deal, indicating that he would give the peace process "two weeks" to progress. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that this week was critical in determining whether a deal could be struck to end the violence. Despite the ongoing challenges, Ukraine and Russia both face mounting pressure as the war continues, devastating Ukraine and killing tens of thousands.

While Washington has not released full details of its peace plan, reports suggest it may involve freezing the front line and accepting Russian control of Crimea in exchange for an end to the fighting. Russia claims to have annexed four territories in Ukraine since the war began, although it has not established full military control over them.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned against agreeing to all terms in the proposed deal, particularly with regard to territorial concessions. Europe has called for a more prominent role in peace negotiations, with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer briefly joining talks with Trump and Zelensky in Vatican City.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to demand control over the territories it has seized, along with the demilitarization of Ukraine and an end to Western support. In a sign of the war’s growing international involvement, North Korea confirmed that it had deployed troops to Russia’s Kursk region, assisting Moscow in regaining territory previously lost to Ukraine.

Despite these challenges, Zelensky affirmed that Ukraine's forces are maintaining their presence on Russian territory, signaling ongoing resistance in the conflict.