Former U.S. President Donald Trump has made a bold claim that the war in Ukraine could end “in 24 hours” if President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to trade Crimea for peace. The statement, delivered during a campaign rally in Michigan, has drawn global attention and renewed scrutiny over Trump’s foreign policy views ahead of the 2024 election.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“This war should have never started, and I can end it — fast,” Trump said. “Give Putin what he already has — Crimea — and bring your people home. Stop dying for a piece of land that’s already lost.”
The former president argued that U.S. support for Ukraine has become a “bottomless pit” and claimed the current administration is backing an unwinnable position. “You can’t beat geography,” he quipped, referencing Crimea’s strategic location and Russia’s naval dominance in the Black Sea.
The Ukrainian government strongly rebuked Trump’s statement. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Crimea is not up for trade. Ukrainian sovereignty is not negotiable, no matter who is speaking.”
International legal experts noted that any peace deal involving the forced cession of Crimea would likely violate the United Nations Charter and set a dangerous precedent. “It would signal to the world that might makes right,” said Dr. Nina Potapenko, a legal scholar at the Hague.
Meanwhile, Trump’s proposal has stirred internal debate in the U.S., with isolationist factions supporting his calls for disengagement, while others warn of long-term consequences for American credibility on the world stage.
President Joe Biden, responding indirectly during a press conference, said, “The path to peace is through justice, not surrender. Ukraine deserves our continued support — not ultimatums.”
As the war drags on and elections loom in both the U.S. and Ukraine, Trump’s remarks have injected new urgency and controversy into discussions about how — and whether — peace can be achieved without sacrificing democratic principles.
