Trump rules out Ukraine joining NATO and returning Crimea

Washington. US President Donald Trump considers Ukraine's accession to NATO and the return of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, unrealistic. "Some things never change!!!" the Republican wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to similar demands from Ukrainians. He referred to the annexation of Crimea, which was tolerated by then-US President Barack Obama, and added: "UKRAINE DOES NOT JOIN NATO."

With this, the US president is reinforcing Russia's demands regarding a possible peace solution, hours before his meeting with Zelensky in Washington. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized that the return of Crimea and Ukraine's accession to NATO are out of the question for him.

"Ukrainian President Zelensky can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants, or he can keep fighting," Trump continued. In the past, Trump had already blamed the Ukrainian for—and in some cases even for—Russia's war of aggression, which began in 2022.

RND/dpa