President Trump believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be willing to cede Crimea as part of a peace deal with Russia, following their brief meeting over the weekend.
The Trump administration has put forward a peace proposal that includes recognizing Russia’s authority over Crimea, according to European officials.
Mr. Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials have said they will not accept any formal surrender of the peninsula, which was invaded and annexed by Russia in 2014.
However, Mr. Trump painted a different picture Sunday after he was asked aboard Air Force One whether Kyiv is willing to give up Crimea.
“I think so,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump described his face-to-face meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral as a “nice” and “beautiful meeting,” while acknowledging “we have a tough road ahead” in the peace talks.
Mr. Trump said Mr. Zelenskyy asked for more weapons, and also brought up Crimea “very briefly” – adding that “Crimea was given away by Barack Hussein Obama and by Biden.”
“That’s 11 or 12 years ago. That’s a long time ago. I don’t know how you can bring up Crimea,” he said. “Maybe go back to Obama, ask them why they gave it up. They gave it up without a shot being fired.”
Mr. Zelenskyy has previously rejected the idea of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia as part of any potential peace deal, following news reports this month that U.S. officials presented a proposal that included allowing Russia to retain control over the occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a deal.
“There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,” Mr. Zelensky said.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump said Mr. Zelenskyy is in a “tough situation” and that he is keeping a close eye on how Russian President Vladimir Putin approaches the negotiations this week after bombing Kyiv.
“I want him to stop shooting, sit down and sign the deal,” he said. “We have the [contours] of a deal, I believe.”
* This article is based in part on wire reports.
