According to U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky might be ready to concede Crimea, despite Kyiv’s previously stated firm position on the matter. This was reported by The Guardian.
Speaking to reporters at a New Jersey airport on Sunday, a day after his meeting with Zelensky at the Vatican, Trump responded affirmatively when asked whether the Ukrainian president was ready to “give up” Crimea: “Oh, I think so.”
These comments contrast sharply with statements made by Zelensky just a few days earlier. At that time, the Ukrainian leader emphasized that Ukraine could not accept U.S. recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Zelensky stressed that the peninsula remains “the property of the Ukrainian people.” There has been no immediate response from the Ukrainian president to Trump’s latest remarks.
Meanwhile, Reuters published two versions of peace plans according to which the United States proposes to allow Moscow to retain control over the occupied territories, including the strategically important Crimean Peninsula. This proposal triggered a strong reaction in Europe.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, in an interview with ARD television, described the U.S. proposals as “virtually capitulation.”
“Kyiv understands that a peace agreement might involve territorial concessions,” Pistorius noted. “But certainly not to the extent suggested by the latest proposal of the American president. Ukraine could have received the same conditions a year ago that Trump is offering today. This is capitulation. I see no added value in this.”
Despite the controversial statements regarding Crimea, Trump expressed sympathy for Zelensky, noting that he “wants to do something good for his country” and is “working hard.”
The former U.S. president also admitted he was “surprised and very disappointed” that Russia continued shelling Ukraine following the negotiations between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Trump’s peace envoy, Steve Witkoff.
“I was very disappointed that rockets started flying over Ukraine again,” Trump said.
According to Trump, Zelensky once again requested additional weaponry.
“He told me he needs more weapons. But he has been saying that for three years,” the American politician emphasized.
When asked about his expectations regarding Putin’s actions, Trump replied:
“I want him to stop shooting. To sit down at the negotiating table and sign an agreement. I believe we already have the framework for a deal. It just needs to be signed to put an end to this.”
When asked whether he trusted Putin, Trump responded evasively:
“I’ll tell you in two weeks.”
When journalists asked him to clarify what should happen in that time, Trump remained vague:
“In two weeks or maybe sooner. But they are losing a tremendous number of people. We are talking about 3,000–4,000 dead every week.”
As for his personal relationship with Zelensky, Trump noted that their meeting at the Vatican “significantly improved the atmosphere.”
“Look, we never had a bad relationship. There was a small dispute, I disagreed with his words, and the cameras caught it. But that’s okay,” the former president explained.
Trump also emphasized:
“He is in a very tough situation. He is up against a much stronger force.”
At the same time, he once again repeated his false claim that the United States had provided Ukraine with $350 billion in aid.
Comparing the recent meeting at the Vatican with previous encounters, particularly Zelensky’s visit to the Oval Office in February, Trump said:
“He has become calmer. I see he now has a better understanding of the whole picture and wants to make a deal.”
In addition to discussing Ukraine, Trump also touched on international trade issues, particularly negotiations with China.
According to him, there has been “some slight progress” in relations with Beijing, despite Chinese authorities’ claims about suspending dialogue.
“They want to make a deal, it’s obvious,” Trump stated. “Right now, they have no business with us. And it’s not their fault, it’s because of me. With a 145% tariff, you can’t do business,” he explained, referring to the tariffs introduced this month on Chinese imports.
However, the former president added: “Something will happen, it will be possible.”
Thus, Donald Trump’s comments once again reflected his characteristic strategy: a combination of unpredictable statements, sharp criticism of opponents, and an emphasis on the need for swift negotiations. However, the real prospects for resolving the Ukrainian crisis remain unclear.
This article was prepared based on materials published by The Guardian. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: The Guardian.
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