April 24, 2025 — Former U.S. President Donald Trump declined to say whether he believes Ukraine should recognize Russian control of Crimea, instead calling for an end to the war and distancing himself from taking sides in the conflict.
“I just want to see the war end, I don’t care,” Trump told reporters on April 23. “If they’re both happy, they both sign an agreement, I have no favorites. I don’t want to have any favorites. I want to have a deal done.”
The comments came hours after Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, responding to speculation that a U.S.-backed peace plan might involve formal recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. “Nobody is asking President Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian territory,” Trump wrote. “But if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”
Trump’s remarks appeared to shift responsibility back to Ukraine while also avoiding a clear condemnation of Russia’s actions. However, his claim that Crimea was taken “without a shot being fired” contradicts widely documented reports of Russia’s use of armed forces during the annexation. In 2014, Russian troops in unmarked uniforms occupied key government and military buildings, blockaded Ukrainian bases, and swiftly asserted control over the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in contrast, took a firm stance. Speaking at a press briefing in Kyiv on April 22, he emphasized that Ukraine would never legally recognize Russia’s control of Crimea. “There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” he said.
In a follow-up statement on April 23, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to its sovereignty and the expectation that its allies—including the United States—would remain steadfast in their support. “Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution, and we are fully confident that our partners—particularly the United States—will act in line with their strong decisions,” he stated.
Trump’s reluctance to reject the idea of recognizing Crimea as Russian territory raises concerns about a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy, which for over a decade has stood in bipartisan opposition to Moscow’s annexation. The 2014 United Nations General Assembly resolution declared Russia’s seizure of Crimea illegal—a position reaffirmed by numerous U.S. administrations.
As diplomatic efforts to end the war continue, the question of Crimea’s status remains one of the most contentious issues in any potential peace deal.