Trump believes Selenskyj could give up crims

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Trump believes Selenskyj could give up crims

So far, Selenskyj has categorically excluded territories to Russia. After talking to the Ukrainian president in Rome, Trump assumes that this could change.

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj could, according to US President Donald Trump, do without the Black Sea Peninsula Crimea in a peace agreement with Russia and thus give up a taboo. When asked whether Selenskyj was ready to cede the Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, said Trump, according to the traveling press at New Jersey Airport: “I think”. The topic briefly arose at the meeting with Selenskyj in Rome on Saturday.

So far, Selenskyj categorically rejects a waiver of the Crimea or other areas incorporated by Moscow in the east of Ukraine. For Trump, on the other hand, it seems to be clear that the Crimea will stay with Russia. Most recently, he had described a return of the Crimea to Ukraine as a “ridiculous demand”.

Ukrainian regional detections to Russia are reportedly the subject of talks between Moscow and Washington. Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian attack war for more than three years.

Trump came together on Saturday on the sidelines of the funeral service for Pope Francis in Rome with Selenskyj for a 15-minute conversation. On his return trip to the USA, he accused Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin not to be seriously interested in ending the war – and threatened Russia with new sanctions.

Trump described his conversation in St. Peter’s Basilica with Selenskyj as a “good meeting”. You will now see what happens, he said. Selenskyj asked for more weapons at the meeting. Putin said Trump said that he should stop shooting and that a peace deal should go. The Kremlin boss must demonstrate his commitment to the end of the war.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio increased pressure on Moscow and Kiev to set peace talks to the negotiating table as soon as possible. “This week will be a very important week in which we have to decide whether we want to continue to participate in this project or whether it is time to concentrate on other topics that are just as important, if not more important,” said Rubio with a view to the mediator’s role.

When asked how long Kiev and Moscow still had time to reach an agreement, he did not want to give a specific answer. It was “silly” to set a certain date.

With regard to a possible agreement, the US foreign minister said that the goal was not yet achieved. “There are reasons to be optimistic, but of course reasons to be realistic. We are close, but not close enough,” said Rubio. “We have made real progress, but the last few steps in this way will always be the most difficult.”

According to the state news agency, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrow and Rubio had spoken in a phone call about the Ukraine crisis. The Kremlin had previously announced that Russia was ready for negotiations with Kyiv without priority.

Selenskyj continues to accuse Russia of deception in the war at the end of the war. “The Russians talk a lot about their alleged willingness to accept American suggestions, but so far there are no preparations for the Russian army for a real silence (weapons),” said Selenskyj in his evening video address. On the contrary, Russia has even resumed its attacks since Easter.