Ukrainians Reject US Peace Proposal on Crimea, Vow to Never Surrender the Peninsula

KYIV, Ukraine – A recent peace proposal from the Trump administration, which includes recognizing Russia’s authority over Crimea, has taken Ukrainian officials by surprise. They are adamant that they will not accept any formal surrender of the peninsula, even though some expect to temporarily concede the territory to the Kremlin as part of a broader peace agreement.

The idea of giving up Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, is both politically and legally impossible, according to experts. Such a move would require amending Ukraine’s constitution and holding a nationwide referendum — steps that would be deeply unpopular and could even be considered treasonous. Ukrainian lawmakers and the public have firmly rejected the idea.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” said Oleksandr Merezkho, a lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party. “We will never recognize Crimea as part of Russia.”

Unlike a simple territorial concession, a formal surrender would permanently cede Crimea, abandoning any hope of regaining it in the future. While many Ukrainians understand that land may need to be temporarily given up to end the war — since reclaiming it militarily is unlikely — they insist that such concessions are not final.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko echoed this sentiment, stating that Ukraine might have to temporarily cede land as part of a peace deal. Acknowledging permanent loss, however, would be politically disastrous, especially for Ukrainians living under Russian occupation, who hope for eventual liberation.

U.S. President Donald Trump reinforced the peace proposal in an interview with Time magazine on Friday: “Crimea will stay with Russia. Zelenskyy understands that, and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time.”

Trump further claimed that Zelenskyy was prepared to give up Crimea, stating, “That was 12 years ago. Obama gave it up without a shot being fired.”

These comments are the latest example of the U.S. pushing Ukraine to make concessions in an effort to end the ongoing war. Trump has also accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the conflict by resisting negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Crimea, strategically located along the Black Sea, was seized by Russia years before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Russian takeover followed massive protests that ousted former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who had refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union.

While Ukrainian officials have privately acknowledged that Crimea may be among the territories they need to concede for peace, Zelenskyy has consistently drawn a hard line against formally surrendering the land.

Elements of the U.S. proposal would see the U.S. formally recognize Crimea as part of Russia, effectively accepting Moscow’s rule over the region and other occupied Ukrainian territories, according to an anonymous European official.

However, even under intense pressure, Zelenskyy cannot unilaterally agree to such a proposal. Experts point out that doing so would be politically dangerous and could result in legal action. A change of this magnitude would require a nationwide referendum, which is unlikely to pass.

Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics and a former Ukrainian economics minister, warned that any attempt to formally surrender Crimea could be viewed as high treason, making it an untenable option for Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government.

Ukrainian soldiers, particularly those on the front lines, have made it clear that they will never stop fighting for their country’s territorial integrity. Oleksandr, a soldier serving in the Donetsk region, shared his personal commitment: “We lost our best guys in this war. We won’t stop until all Ukrainian lands are free.”

As Ukraine navigates the complexities of peace talks and military strategy, the issue of Crimea remains one of the most contentious. Despite some recognizing the necessity of a temporary cession of land, many Ukrainians remain steadfast in their resolve to never formally relinquish Crimea.

Ukrainian officials have been candid about the challenges they face in any peace negotiations, especially regarding the territory lost to Russian control. But for Zelenskyy, the question of Crimea is a “big challenge” — and one that he will not compromise on, even under immense international pressure.

Ultimately, any deal that involves territorial concessions will need to ensure robust security guarantees for Ukraine, including NATO membership or significant military support from Western allies.

The future of Crimea remains uncertain, but the message from Ukraine’s leadership and military is clear: giving up the peninsula is not an option — not now, and not in the future.