US President Donald Trump said during an interview with Time magazine that Russia will continue to control Crimea, the part of Ukraine it occupied in 2014. He shared these views as global efforts to end the Ukraine war continue.

Trump Criticizes Zelensky

Trump placed blame on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the war. He accused Zelensky of causing “millions of deaths.” Moreover, he criticized Zelensky for refusing to give up Crimea as a possible way to stop the conflict with Russia.

Trump stated, “With that being said, will they be able to get it back? They’ve had their Russians. They’ve had their submarines there for long before any period that we’re talking about, for many years. The people speak largely Russian in Crimea. But this was given by Obama. This wasn’t given by Trump.”

Crimea Belongs to Russia, Says Trump

Trump also claimed that Zelensky knows Crimea will stay under Russian control. He added that everyone understands Russia has controlled the region for a long time. He said, “and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time.”

Trump Opposes Ukraine Joining NATO

Furthermore, Trump said he doesn’t see Ukraine joining NATO, the Western military alliance, in the future. He believes that Ukraine’s desire to join NATO helped trigger the war.

Trump explained, “I don’t think they’ll ever be able to join NATO.”
He continued, “I think that’s been — from day one, I think that’s been, that’s I think what caused the war to start was when they started talking about joining NATO. If that weren’t brought up, there would have been a much better chance that it wouldn’t have started.”

US Proposals to End the War

According to Reuters, the Trump administration has submitted proposals to end the Ukraine war. These proposals suggest that Ukraine should give up its NATO ambitions but may still pursue membership in the European Union.

The US also offered official recognition of Russia's control over Crimea. In addition, the proposal includes unofficial acceptance of Russia’s control over parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—regions captured during the war.

Other Terms in the Peace Deal

The US plan also mentions a permanent ceasefire. It includes a deal for economic cooperation and use of Ukraine’s minerals. Moreover, it promises financial help to rebuild Ukraine.

Lastly, the proposal suggests that the sanctions placed on Russia since 2014 would be lifted if the agreement is accepted.