U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have once again engaged in a public war of words over the terms for ending the Ukraine war. On Wednesday, April 23, Trump sharply criticized Zelensky after Kyiv rejected Washington’s suggestion to accept Russian control over Crimea.
According to Reuters, the Trump administration’s peace proposal reportedly includes recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea—a move that has drawn criticism since Russia seized the peninsula in 2014. A former Western official confirmed to Reuters that this clause is part of the U.S. peace plan.
Opposing the idea, Zelensky stated on Tuesday that Ukraine would never voluntarily hand over Crimea to Russia. “This contradicts our constitution. There’s nothing to discuss here,” he said.
Calling Zelensky’s remarks provocative, Trump responded that such statements would only complicate peace efforts. On his social media platform Truth Social, he reiterated, “There is nothing left to negotiate about Crimea—it was lost long ago.”
Last week, Trump warned that if Kyiv rejected the proposal, the U.S. might pull out of involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Echoing that sentiment, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said, “Either Russia and Ukraine accept the U.S. plan, or America will step back.”
In response, Zelensky shared a post on X that included the 2018 “Crimea Declaration” signed by former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The declaration stated that the U.S. rejects Russia’s attempt to annex Crimea and will remain committed to Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine would adhere to its constitution and expressed hope that the U.S. and its allies would maintain their original stance on Crimea.
Trump, who had vowed to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office, appears increasingly frustrated with the delays in reaching a peace agreement. He said efforts to stop the bloodshed are close to success and that both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin need to be convinced to sign a deal. “Once that happens, the killings will stop,” he said.