Trump believes that Ukraine’s Zelensky is prepared to surrender Crimea to Russia

US President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might be willing to surrender Crimea to Russia as part of a ceasefire agreement, as discussions for a truce entered a crucial phase this week.

Trump intensified his demands on Vladimir Putin, urging the Russian leader to cease hostilities and finalize a deal to end the ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022. His remarks followed a meeting with Zelensky at Pope Francis’s funeral, which helped mend relations after a significant disagreement between the US and Ukrainian leaders earlier this year.

When asked if he thought Zelensky was prepared to relinquish Crimea, Trump responded affirmatively, despite Zelensky’s consistent assertions to the contrary. He noted that their discussions in the Vatican had included a brief mention of the Black Sea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

The 78-year-old US president, who claimed he could resolve the conflict within a day before taking office, has initiated diplomatic efforts to end the violence since January. Concerns have arisen among Kyiv and its Western allies regarding Trump’s potential shift towards Moscow’s stance.

However, he has shown growing frustration with Putin recently, especially following Russian drone and missile strikes that occurred after the Vatican meeting, resulting in casualties in eastern Ukraine.

The White House has indicated that it may withdraw from its role as a mediator if significant progress is not made soon. Trump mentioned he would allow the process ‘two weeks’ to advance.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming week, stating, ‘We’re close, but not close enough’ to reach an agreement to cease hostilities, as he told NBC. He described the week ahead as crucial.

However, there remains frustration in the US regarding both parties, as the ongoing conflict has ravaged large areas of eastern Ukraine and resulted in tens of thousands of casualties. On Sunday, Ukraine conducted a significant drone strike in Russia’s Bryansk region, resulting in one civilian death and another injury, according to the regional governor.

While Washington has not disclosed specifics of its peace initiative, it has proposed freezing the front lines and recognizing Russian control over Crimea in exchange for an end to the fighting. Russia asserts it has annexed four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine since its full-scale invasion three years ago, despite lacking complete military dominance in those areas. Currently, Russia occupies approximately 20 percent of Ukraine, including Crimea.

‘territorial concessions’

However, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius advised on Sunday that Ukraine should not accept all the terms outlined in Trump’s proposed agreement. He acknowledged that a ceasefire ‘may involve territorial concessions,’ but insisted that these would not extend as far as suggested in the latest proposal from the US president.

Europe has advocated for a more significant role in the negotiations regarding Ukraine, with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer briefly joining Trump and Zelensky for discussions at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Additionally, Rubio had a phone conversation on Sunday with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during which they noted ’emerging prerequisites’ for initiating negotiations aimed at achieving long-term peace, according to a statement from the Moscow foreign ministry.

Russia is adamant about retaining the territory it has seized and is calling for the demilitarization of Kyiv, along with a cessation of Western support.

In a demonstration of the war’s international implications, North Korea confirmed on Monday that it had, for the first time, sent troops to Russia’s Kursk region, stating that its soldiers assisted Moscow in regaining control of the area.

Over the weekend, Moscow announced the ‘liberation’ of Kursk, where Kyiv had initiated a surprise cross-border offensive in August 2024, intending to leverage the land in future peace negotiations. However, President Zelensky asserted on Sunday that Ukraine’s military continues to hold its position on Russian territory.