Washington/Kyiv/Moscow, April 25, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited international controversy by declaring that Crimea “will stay with Russia” as part of any peace deal to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The statement, made in a recent interview with Time magazine and reiterated in public remarks, signals a dramatic shift in U.S. policy and has drawn sharp rebukes from Kyiv, legal experts, and America’s European allies.
Trump’s Plan: Crimea for Peace
Trump’s proposal, presented as part of a broader peace framework, would see the U.S. grant official (“de jure”) recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and unofficial (“de facto”) recognition of Russian control over large swathes of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions—territories occupied since the 2022 invasion. The plan also suggests Ukraine would forgo joining NATO, though it may pursue European Union membership, and calls for a permanent ceasefire, economic cooperation, and the removal of sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014.
“Crimea will stay with Russia. Zelensky understands that, and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time,” Trump asserted, referencing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s steadfast refusal to cede the territory.
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Ukraine’s Firm Rejection
Ukrainian leaders have categorically rejected the proposal. President Zelensky has stated, “There is nothing to discuss. It contradicts our constitution. This is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people”. Ukraine’s constitution explicitly prohibits any cession of territory, making recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea legally and politically impossible for Kyiv.
Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s economy minister, reiterated, “Ukraine is open to negotiations — but not to capitulation. There will be no agreement that provides Russia with the stronger foundation it needs to regroup and retaliate with increased aggression”.
International Law and the Budapest Memorandum
Legal experts warn that Trump’s plan would violate core principles of international law, including the prohibition on recognizing territorial acquisitions by force. “The principle that territorial acquisitions resulting from the use of force shall not be recognized as legal is fundamentally one of the cornerstones of international law,” said Sergey Vasiliev, professor at the Open University in the Netherlands.
The proposal would also breach the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, under which the U.S., U.K., and Russia pledged to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear arsenal. Previous U.S. administrations, including Trump’s first term, had consistently refused to recognize Russia’s claim on Crimea.
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Russia’s Response
The Kremlin has welcomed Trump’s stance, seeing it as a significant diplomatic win. Moscow has long insisted that Crimea is not up for negotiation and views U.S. recognition as validation of its 2014 annexation.
NATO and European Allies Alarmed
Trump’s proposal has alarmed European allies and NATO, threatening to deepen divisions within the alliance. Legal experts and diplomats caution that U.S. recognition of Russia’s claims could undermine Western unity, embolden further territorial aggression, and destabilize the rules-based international order.
What’s Next?
Negotiations continue, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week. Trump claims the U.S. is “quite near” to finalizing a peace agreement, but has also warned that Washington is ready to “walk away” if a deal is not reached soon.
For now, Ukraine remains resolute. As Zelensky declared, “There is nothing to negotiate. This contravenes our Constitution. This is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people”.
For more updates on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and international diplomacy, stay tuned to The Interview Times.