Volodymyr Zelensky is under growing pressure as the war in Ukraine grinds on, with calls for peace becoming louder across international circles.
Yet, one issue remains non-negotiable for the Ukrainian president—Crimea. Despite suggestions from US President Donald Trump that Crimea should be considered a lost cause, Zelensky has made clear that giving it up is not an option.
The current standoff over Crimea dates back to 2014, when armed men in unmarked green uniforms—later confirmed to be Russian troops—took control of the peninsula during a period of political turmoil in Kyiv. Russia quickly moved to annex Crimea, while denying involvement at first. The takeover sparked global condemnation and marked the beginning of Russia’s long war against Ukraine.
Now, Crimea is a major sticking point in Trump’s proposed peace plan, which reportedly involves the US recognizing the peninsula as Russian territory. Trump has argued that Crimea was effectively handed over without resistance and is no longer worth fighting for. But that view is not shared in Ukraine, where leaders across the political spectrum view Crimea as an inseparable part of their country.
For Zelensky, giving up Crimea would go against the very foundation of Ukraine’s statehood. The country’s constitution states that its territory is “indivisible and inviolable,” and any changes must be approved by a national referendum—a process that cannot happen under current wartime conditions. Zelensky insists that the matter isn’t even up for discussion. To him and millions of Ukrainians, surrendering Crimea would mean abandoning the fight for Ukraine’s independence.
Trump’s comments about Crimea have stirred criticism in Kyiv. Many Ukrainians remember that in 2018, Trump’s administration publicly declared its rejection of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a firm commitment that the US would continue to support Ukraine’s full territorial integrity. Zelensky is calling on Trump to maintain that position, warning that backing a landgrab would send a dangerous message around the world.
The legal and symbolic weight of Crimea goes far beyond its geographical location. International law does not recognize Russia’s claim to the peninsula, and any shift in that position by a major power like the US would damage the credibility of global agreements and the authority of the United Nations.
During early negotiations in Istanbul following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, there was a brief attempt to delay discussions about Crimea for a decade or more. But the idea faded quickly, and Zelensky has since made it clear that any deal which leaves Crimea under Russian control is unacceptable.
Russia, too, sees the Ukrainian constitution as an obstacle to its aims, yet changing it during wartime is impossible. And even if that were possible, it would require approval from Ukrainian voters, many of whom have family ties to the region and remember Crimea as part of an independent Ukraine.
Moscow, for its part, continues to celebrate the annexation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted national events to mark the day Crimea was absorbed into the Russian Federation. He often speaks of the peninsula in romantic terms, calling it inseparable from Russian history and identity.
However, the reality is more complex. Crimea voted to leave the Soviet Union in 1991 along with the rest of Ukraine. Since then, Kyiv had allowed Russia to lease naval facilities in Sevastopol, home to its Black Sea Fleet. The arrangement worked until Russia decided to forcefully take control of the entire peninsula.
Accepting the annexation would not only reward aggression but could open the door for further territorial grabs in Europe. Neighbouring countries like Romania are watching closely, knowing that if Russia’s actions in Crimea are normalized, they could be next.
As long as Zelensky is in power and Ukraine remains at war, Crimea will remain a red line. The cost of war is high, but the cost of surrendering Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty, in his eyes, would be far greater.