Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly reminded former U.S. President Donald Trump of the official U.S. position on Crimea during his first tenure, as debate intensifies over Russia’s occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula.
In a pointed social media post, Zelenskyy shared the 2018 “Crimea Declaration” issued by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which reaffirmed America’s rejection of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and pledged continued support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
“The United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored,” the declaration read.
Zelenskyy’s reminder came in response to Trump’s latest remarks on Wednesday, suggesting that the United States should consider formally recognizing Crimea as Russian territory. Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Zelenskyy in recent months, accused the Ukrainian president of obstructing peace negotiations by insisting on the return of Crimea.
“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea,” Trump told reporters, dismissing the Ukrainian leader’s insistence on restoring all occupied territories as a condition for peace.
President Zelenskyy, however, remains resolute, stating that no part of Ukraine will be surrendered or used as leverage in any negotiation. “Ukraine’s sovereignty is not up for debate,” he reiterated.
Zelenskyy’s stance continues to garner strong support from European allies, including the United Kingdom and France. On Wednesday, the three nations reportedly held a productive discussion focused on pathways to end the war while upholding Ukraine’s territorial claims.
As diplomatic efforts to resolve the over three-year-old conflict continue, Crimea remains a central and contentious issue, highlighting deep divisions between Kyiv’s unwavering demands and Trump’s controversial proposals.
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