Trump Suggests Zelenskyy May Be Open to Concessions on Crimea Amid Ongoing Peace Efforts

In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be prepared to cede Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Speaking to reporters at an airport in New Jersey on Sunday, Trump responded affirmatively when asked if he believed Zelenskyy was ready to "give up" the territory, saying simply, “Oh, I think so.”

The remarks came just a day after Trump and Zelenskyy met at the Vatican. Zelenskyy, however, has maintained a firm stance on Crimea, recently asserting that the territory remains “the property of the Ukrainian people” and rejecting the notion of U.S. recognition of Russia’s claim. He has yet to respond publicly to Trump’s latest comments.

Two sets of draft peace proposals, published by Reuters on Friday, revealed that U.S. negotiators have floated the idea of allowing Russia to retain control over areas it currently occupies, including Crimea. The proposals have drawn sharp criticism from European allies. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the American plan as “akin to a capitulation,” emphasizing that any peace settlement should not entail the level of concessions suggested.

"Ukraine on its own could have secured such terms a year ago," Pistorius said in an interview with ARD. "There is no added value in what is now being proposed."

Despite his remarks on Crimea, Trump appeared to adopt a more conciliatory tone toward Zelenskyy, praising his Ukrainian counterpart’s efforts. “He wants to do something good for his country. He’s working hard,” Trump said. Reflecting on their conversation, Trump expressed disappointment that Russian missile strikes continued despite diplomatic overtures through his peace envoy, Steve Witkoff. “I was very disappointed that missiles were flying, by Russia,” he said.

During the exchange with reporters, Trump stated that Zelenskyy continued to seek additional military assistance, adding, “He told me that he needs more weapons, but he’s been saying that for three years.”

When asked about his expectations from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said, “I want him to stop shooting. Sit down and sign the deal. We have the confines of a deal, I believe, and I want him to sign it and be done with it.”

Pressed on whether he trusts Putin, Trump replied ambiguously: “I’ll let you know in about two weeks.” He declined to provide further details, adding only, “Two weeks or less.”

The President also noted that his relationship with Zelenskyy had improved following their face-to-face meeting: “It was never bad. We had a little dispute, because I disagreed with something he said, and the cameras were rolling. But that was OK with me.”

Acknowledging the difficult position Ukraine finds itself in, Trump said: “He’s in a very tough situation, fighting a much bigger force.” Trump went on to repeat a frequent but inaccurate claim that the U.S. has provided Ukraine with $350 billion in military aid.

Comparing his recent encounter with Zelenskyy to their previous meeting at the White House in February, Trump said, “I see him as calmer. I think he understands the picture better, and I think he wants to make a deal.”

Separately, Trump also suggested that there had been "a little bit" of progress in trade discussions with China, despite Chinese officials stating that no formal talks are underway. “They want to make a deal, obviously," Trump said. “They’re not doing any business with us right now because of the tariffs — not because of them, because of me. At 145% tariffs, you can’t do business. But something’s going to happen — that’s going to be possible.”

As diplomatic tensions remain high and negotiations evolve, Trump's comments signal shifting dynamics in both the Ukraine conflict and U.S. foreign policy positioning ahead of key global summits.