By Charles Switzer
2:09pm PDT, Apr 26, 2025
Trump's Position on the Ukraine War and Campaign Promise
President
Donald Trump expressed his belief that Crimea would remain under Russian control as part of a deal aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In an interview with
Time published on Friday, Trump seemed prepared to grant Russian President
Vladimir Putin a significant win, as he pushes for peace in the conflict. "Crimea will stay with Russia," Trump declared, indicating that he views the peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, as a key point in his proposed peace negotiations.
Trump, however, later clarified his statement, saying, "Well, I said that figuratively," adding that it was "said in jest" but also suggesting that peace was achievable under his leadership. Despite his comments, he also indicated that he believed the situation could end with him at the helm, despite failing to fulfill his campaign promise of ending the war on his first day back in office.
Here's everything Trump revealed about the Russo-Ukrainian War.
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Trump's Blame on NATO for the War's Outbreak
In his interview, Donald Trump placed much of the blame for the war's outbreak on Ukraine's pursuit of
NATO membership. "I think what caused the war to start was when they started talking about joining NATO," Trump said.
He suggested that if NATO talks had not taken place, there would have been a better chance that Russia's invasion would not have occurred.
Trump's comments align with a more sympathetic stance toward Russia, as he has consistently expressed a more lenient approach toward Moscow, even in the face of international condemnation. His narrative diverges sharply from that of Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky, who insists that NATO's actions were not the root cause of the war.
Trump's Push for a Deal Giving Russia 20 Percent of Ukraine's Land
Donald Trump revealed that he was advocating for a deal that would grant Russia control over 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea. This portion of his peace proposal would mark a drastic shift in U.S. foreign policy, as the U.S. has consistently refused to recognize Crimea as part of Russia since its annexation in 2014.
"Crimea will stay with Russia," Trump reiterated. He also noted that "Zelensky understands that, and everybody understands that it's been with them for a long time. It's been with them long before Trump came along." Trump's endorsement of this territorial shift would represent a break from more than a decade of U.S. policy regarding Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Zelensky's Rejection of Crimea's Status
Volodymyr Zelensky has been adamant in his refusal to cede Crimea to Russia. Speaking on Tuesday, April 22, he stated, "There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people."
Zelensky's strong stance on the matter contradicts Trump's suggestion that Russia should retain control over the region, further complicating any potential peace negotiations.
Zelensky's position has remained clear:
Crimea is non-negotiable and is an integral part of Ukraine. Trump's endorsement of Russia's claim to Crimea has led to increasing tension between the two leaders, making peace talks more difficult.
Trump Criticizes Zelenskyy's Comments and Pushes for Peace
Donald Trump criticized Volodymyr Zelensky's refusal to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, calling his comments "inflammatory."
He posted on Truth Social, "Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory," and accused the Ukrainian president of hindering efforts to bring peace to the region.
Trump's comments came just one day after he claimed that Russia had made a "pretty big concession" by not attempting to take all of Ukraine. Despite Russia's continued efforts to expand its control over Ukraine since February 2022, Trump suggested that this was a step toward peace.
However, this view is not widely shared, as Russia's invasion has been widely condemned by the international community, and its progress has been met with significant resistance from Ukraine.
