Trump Demands Bold Ukraine Peace Deal: Accept Crimea Or Lose U.S. Support

Trump Pressures Ukraine to Accept Peace Deal Including Crimea Concession

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy disagreed again about how to end Ukraine’s three-year war with Russia. Trump criticized Zelenskiy for not accepting Russia’s control of Crimea, which Russia took in 2014.

Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance, said Russia and Ukraine should accept a U.S. peace plan or the U.S. might stop helping. Vance explained the plan would freeze the current battle lines and aim for a long-term peace deal. He said stopping the fighting requires both sides to pause their attacks.

A former official said the U.S. plan also includes recognizing Russia’s claim to Crimea.

Since becoming president in January, Trump has changed U.S. policy by pushing Ukraine for a ceasefire and reducing pressure on Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine will never give up Crimea because it’s against their constitution. Trump called this statement unhelpful and said Crimea’s loss years ago isn’t up for debate.

Zelenskiy later posted on X that the London talks with U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials were emotional but could lead to peace. He stressed Ukraine would follow its constitution and hoped the U.S. would stick to its past promise to support Ukraine’s claim to Crimea, citing a 2018 statement from Mike Pompeo, Trump’s former secretary of state.

Trump, who promised to end the war quickly, said the U.S. is close to a peace deal and wants to stop the deaths. He said the London talks went well but stressed that Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin need to agree to stop the fighting.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled his trip to the London talks, which also canceled a bigger meeting with Ukraine, Britain, France, and Germany. This showed the differences between the U.S., Ukraine, and Europe on ending the war.

TRUMP GROWING FRUSTRATED

The White House said Trump is annoyed with the slow progress and thinks Zelenskiy is making peace harder. Sources say Trump’s plan, presented by his envoy Steve Witkoff, includes Ukraine accepting Russia’s control of Crimea and 20% of Ukraine’s land, blocking Ukraine from joining NATO, and removing Western sanctions on Russia.

Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, said on X that talks in London with Zelenskiy’s team were positive and it’s time to follow Trump’s plan to stop the war and focus on America’s interests.

Trump warned on Sunday that he wants Russia and Ukraine to agree to a deal soon.

The London talks focused on what Ukraine might accept after Witkoff shared proposals in Paris last week. Diplomats said the U.S. plan asks more from Ukraine than Russia.

TRUMP ENVOY TO MEET PUTIN

Witkoff is expected to meet Putin on Friday, a U.S. official said. He has already met Putin three times to discuss ending the war and will visit Moscow again this week.

Since Trump called Putin in February to push for peace, European countries have tried to support Ukraine while keeping the U.S. involved.

Britain, France, and Germany said after the London talks that they support Trump’s goal of stopping the fighting and finding a fair peace. They made progress on next steps and plan more talks soon.

Highlights:

Trump urges Ukraine to accept a peace deal recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea and occupied areas.
Zelenskiy rejects the proposal, calling it unconstitutional and non-negotiable.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Putin again, pushing for a ceasefire based on current front lines.
U.S.-led London talks see tension and division between Ukraine, the U.S., and European allies.
Trump insists a peace deal is close and warns of ending U.S. involvement if progress stalls.