Trump: Crimea Is Russian, NATO Aspirations Triggered War

As the Trump administration steps up its efforts to find a solution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated unequivocally that Russia will continue to dominate the Crimean Peninsula. During a Time magazine interview, Trump attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of starting the conflict and causing millions of deaths.

Is it possible for them to retrieve it? The Russians had their submarines in Crimea much before the time period we are discussing. There, the majority of the population speaks Russian. But Obama, not Trump, gave this away," Trump said, stressing that Russia had been effectively controlling Crimea for years.

Also, he asserted that "everyone understands" the truth of the situation and that even Zelensky "understands" that Crimea will remain with Russia.

Trump was contemptuous of Ukraine's ambitions to join the NATO alliance. He said that one of the reasons for the war was Kyiv's wish to join NATO, saying, "I don't think they'll ever be able to join." "I think that was the beginning of it from the beginning. There might have been a better chance to prevent the war if NATO hadn't been mentioned.

As part of the Trump administration's peace proposals, Ukraine would abandon plans to join NATO but could pursue membership in the European Union. According to a draft of the proposals cited by Reuters, the U.S. has also suggested granting "de jure" recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and "de facto" recognition of Russia's current control of large areas in Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson.

In addition to proposing a "permanent" ceasefire, the U.S. plan includes significant economic initiatives: a full economic cooperation and minerals agreement, financial compensation for Ukraine's reconstruction, and the lifting of all sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014.

These events coincide with mounting international pressure to put an end to the protracted conflict, and the Trump administration is presenting itself as a key player in advancing a settlement.