Russian soldiers guard a pier with two Ukrainian naval vessels moored in Sevastopol, Crimea, on March 5, 2014 (AP photo).
Kyiv: Ukrainian officials have expressed shock and firm opposition to a peace proposal by the Trump administration, which includes recognizing Russian authority over Crimea. Despite the possibility of temporarily conceding the territory to Russia, Ukraine will not accept any formal surrender of Crimea, as it would be politically and legally impossible, experts say.
Crimea was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, and Ukrainian lawmakers and the public have made it clear that surrendering the peninsula is out of the question. It would require a change to Ukraine’s constitution and a nationwide vote, which could even be considered treasonous. Many lawmakers and citizens are staunchly against the idea of ceding the land permanently.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” said Oleksandr Merezkho, a lawmaker from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party. “We will never recognize Crimea as part of Russia.” A formal surrender would effectively abandon any hope of regaining the peninsula in the future, unlike a territorial concession, which could be seen as temporary.
While the Ukrainian public understands that some land concessions may be necessary in a peace deal, many are not willing to accept a permanent loss of Crimea. Public statements, such as those by Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko, suggest that Ukraine may need to temporarily give up land as part of an armistice, but the idea of permanent surrender remains deeply unpopular. For Ukrainians living under Russian occupation, there is still a strong desire to be liberated and reunited with their families one day, making any formal recognition of Russia’s control unthinkable.
U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated the proposal in an interview with Time magazine, stating, “Crimea will stay with Russia. Zelenskyy understands that, and everybody understands that it's been with them for a long time.” Trump has also criticized Zelenskyy for resisting negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of prolonging the war.
The Russian annexation of Crimea occurred in 2014, following protests that ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who had refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union. The Black Sea peninsula has since been a strategic asset for Russia. Ukrainian officials have indicated for months that they expect Crimea and other occupied territories to be part of any territorial concessions in the event of a peace deal. However, Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that formally surrendering the land is a red line for Ukraine.
Trump’s peace proposal would see the U.S. formally recognize Crimea as part of Russia, effectively legitimizing Moscow's control over Ukrainian territories. While the U.S. president may have some influence on this issue, Zelenskyy cannot unilaterally sign any such agreement. Experts point out that doing so would not only violate Ukrainian law but also expose him to potential legal action from future governments.
Ukraine began to accept that it would not regain its lost territories following the failure of its 2023 summer counteroffensive. Since then, the military has concentrated on defending the areas still under Ukrainian control. In exchange for territorial concessions, Ukraine seeks strong security guarantees, including NATO membership or concrete military support from its allies to defend against future Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy has said that discussions over occupied territories will not take place until a ceasefire is in place. He also emphasized that formal recognition of Crimea as Russian would amount to political suicide and could lead to legal challenges. Changing Ukraine’s territorial integrity is impossible without a constitutional change and a nationwide referendum, which would spark a lengthy legal debate.
Russia is well aware of these obstacles and is pushing for a deal that Ukrainian officials argue is impossible to achieve. “Anything related to constitutional change gives so much policy and public communication space to Russia,” said Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics. “This is all they want.”
On the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers have made it clear that they will continue to fight regardless of the political leadership’s decisions. “We lost our best guys in this war,” said Oleksandr, a soldier from the Donetsk region. “We won’t stop until all Ukrainian lands are free.”
With PTI inputs