In a surprising turn, former President Donald Trump claimed over the weekend that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky might finally be ready to accept Crimea as Russian territory — all in the name of making peace with Moscow.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after attending Pope Francis' funeral at the Vatican, Trump said Zelensky seemed far more willing to negotiate than during their famously heated meeting at the White House earlier this year.
Asked if Zelensky was now prepared to "give up" Crimea, Trump didn’t mince words: "Oh, I think so, yeah."
The shift in tone caught attention. Trump described Zelensky as “calmer” this time around, hinting that the Ukrainian leader now "understands the picture" and is more focused on cutting a deal. “I do not know if he wanted to make a deal before,” Trump added, “but I think he wants to make a deal now.”
This latest meeting was apparently a far cry from the February debacle, when Zelensky’s fiery exchange with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance blew up into a shouting match in the Oval Office and led to an abrupt end to his visit.
Still, Trump said Zelensky hasn’t changed his tune when it comes to military aid. "He needs more weapons — but he’s been saying that for three years," Trump noted, adding that Ukraine is fighting a "much bigger force" and is facing a "very tough situation."
At the same time, Trump issued a blunt message to Russian President Vladimir Putin: "Stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal."
Meanwhile, over in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remains open to talks with Kiev — without any preconditions. However, he pointed out that so far, Ukraine hasn't shown any real moves toward the negotiating table.
Russian officials have stressed that any lasting peace would have to recognize the realities on the ground — meaning not just Crimea, but also the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, along with the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, would stay under Moscow’s control.
The ball, it seems, is in Ukraine’s court.
