Trump claims Zelensky ready to ‘give up’ Crimea

The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly insisted he would never formally recognize the peninsula as Russian territory

US President Donald Trump has said he believes Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has come to terms with the need to recognize Crimea as part of Russia in order to achieve peace with Moscow.

Zelensky has repeatedly insisted he would never formally recognize Moscow’s control over Crimea, which became part of Russia in 2014 as a result of a referendum held in response to a Western-backed coup in Kiev.

Trump, who met with the Ukrainian leader on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican on Saturday, was asked by journalists aboard Air Force One on Sunday if Zelensky was now prepared to “give up” the peninsula.

”Oh, I think so, yeah,” the US president replied.

Trump said the tone of his latest exchange with Zelensky was markedly different compared to the “little dispute” they had at the Oval Office in February.

Back then, the Ukrainian leader’s meeting with Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance turned into a shouting match in front of the cameras and led to Zelensky’s visit to the White House being cut short.

”I see him [Zelensky] as calmer. I think he understands the picture. And I think he wants to make a deal. I do not know if he wanted to make a deal [before]. I think he wants to make a deal,” the president stated.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW