U.S. President Donald Trump declared in a recent interview that Crimea “will stay with Russia,” signaling a potential shift in American positioning on the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The comment, made during a Time magazine interview, reflects Trump’s growing pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make territorial concessions in exchange for peace.
“Zelenskyy understands that,” Trump stated, referencing the peninsula seized by Russia in 2014. “They’ve had their submarines there for years. The people speak largely Russian in Crimea.”
Trump has accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the war by refusing to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Ukrainian cities remain under heavy bombardment. In Pavlohrad, a drone strike killed three people, including a child and a 76-year-old woman, amid a wider wave of drone attacks across five regions.
Tensions have escalated dramatically as Russia launched a massive assault on Kyiv, killing at least 12 and injuring 87. Trump, in a rare public rebuke of Putin, wrote on Truth Social: “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
Efforts for diplomacy continue. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow—his fourth visit since February. Despite ongoing talks, Zelenskyy insists Ukraine will not surrender any occupied territories, calling it a red line for negotiations.
Adding to the chaos, a senior Russian officer was killed by a car bomb near Moscow, the latest in a series of high-profile attacks that authorities blame on Ukraine.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine accepted a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal over a month ago, but Russian strikes have not ceased. As battlefield momentum shifts and diplomatic channels intensify, the war appears to be nearing a critical turning point.