United States President Donald Trump has rejected the demand that the Ukrainian authorities recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea as part of a peace settlement plan, as it lost it a long time ago.
The US leader stated this on the social network Truth Social.
He commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that Ukraine would never legally recognize Crimea as Russian. Trump believes that such a statement is "very damaging to peace negotiations with Russia."
The US President stated that Ukraine lost the island many years ago, during the presidency of Barack Obama, and now it is "not a subject of discussion."
"No one is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a single shot being fired?" he noted.
He also reported that the parties are "very close" to an agreement, and demanded that Zelensky support it.
Earlier, The Washington Post reported, citing sources, that during an upcoming meeting in London, White House representatives will allegedly propose to the Ukrainian side to recognize Crimea as Russian and freeze the conflict on the current front line.
As Apostrophe reported, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will not change its position on Crimea and will not legally recognize the occupation . Any proposals to recognize the peninsula as Russian territory will be rejected.
April 23 in the British capital negotiations took place representatives of Western governments regarding a peaceful settlement .