Russia’s position on the ownership of Crimea—that it is not up for discussion—is “fully” consistent with U.S. President Donald Trump‘s, the Kremlin said.
It follows Trump’s criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s comments about Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014 before eventually launching its full-scale war in February 2022 as Kyiv pushed to join NATO.
“This fully corresponds to our understanding and what we have been saying for a long time,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday, the Russian state news agency TASS reported.
Why it Matters
The comments will fuel European fears that Trump is too willing to compromise with Russia for peace. But the Trump Administration has said peace is only possible by understanding everyone’s views, including those of Russia.
The U.S. is threatening to walk away from brokering the process unless progress is made swiftly.
In a sign of growing pressure on Kyiv, President Andrzej Duda of its close ally and neighbor Poland said Ukraine will have to “step down” and “compromise” along with Russia to secure a deal.
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin meets with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill and Serbian Patriarch Porfirije (both not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow on April… In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin meets with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill and Serbian Patriarch Porfirije (both not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 22, 2025. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
What to Know
Trump had posted to his Truth Social platform that “Crimea was lost years ago…and is not even a point of discussion,” accusing Zelensky of harming the peace process with his statements about the strategically important Black Sea peninsula.
Zelensky had said that Ukraine “will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled out of talks in London on the Trump Administration’s draft peace proposal as the dispute over Crimean recognition flared up.
The Ukrainian president is bound by politics, public opinion, and his country’s law on Crimea.
“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory 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?” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.”
Trump added: “The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the “killing field,” and nobody wants that! We are very close to a Deal, but the man with “no cards to play” should now, finally, GET IT DONE.”
What People Are Saying
Polish President Duda told Euronews in an interview: “It has to be a compromise. I mean, de facto, this peace should, in my personal opinion, come down to the fact that neither side will be able to say that it won this war, because each side in some sense will have to step down. Ukraine will also have to step down in some sense, because that’s what will probably happen. To what extent? It is difficult for me to answer at this stage.”
Ukraine’s President Zelensky posted on X, formerly Twitter: “In Ukraine, we insist on an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire…This is absolutely possible—but only if Russia agrees and stops the killing.”
What’s Next
Trump remains optimistic that a deal can happen, telling reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday that he thinks “we have a deal with both” Russia and Ukraine, despite the tensions with Zelensky. The first major step to peace would be a ceasefire.
