Zelenskyy Dismisses Trump’s Criticism Over Crimea, Reaffirms Kyiv’s Position
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejected criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday over Kyiv’s refusal to include Crimea in negotiations with Russia. The Ukrainian leader reiterated that any concession on the peninsula, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014, would violate the Ukrainian Constitution.
Trump, in a Truth Social post earlier, described Zelenskyy’s stance as “very harmful” to the peace talks. “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory,” Trump wrote. “But if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”
Zelenskyy responded during a press conference in Kyiv, asserting that there is “nothing to talk about” regarding Crimea. He emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to its constitutional principles and expressed confidence that the United States would honor its established positions. In a post on X, he included an image of the 2018 Crimea Declaration by former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which firmly rejected Russia’s annexation and pledged continued U.S. support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Zelenskyy also addressed the recent peace talks in London, held with representatives from the U.S., UK, France, and Germany. He praised the cooperative efforts, saying, “Emotions have run high today. But it is good that five countries met to bring peace closer.” He noted that all sides “respectfully received each other’s positions” and contributed meaningfully to the ongoing diplomatic efforts.
