US President Donald Trump has indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might be open to giving up Crimea to Russia as part of a peace agreement, a controversial stance amid the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
US President Donald Trump has expressed the belief that Ukraine might be willing to cede control of Crimea to Russia as part of a peace agreement. This comment came during an interaction with reporters following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, held at the Vatican.
When asked if Zelensky was prepared to “give up” Crimea, Trump responded, “Oh, I think so,” indicating that he thought the Ukrainian leader was open to such a concession to ensure peace in the region. Crimea, an Eastern European peninsula, was annexed by Russia in 2014 — a move widely condemned as illegal. President Zelensky has previously rejected any proposals to relinquish the territory, affirming that Crimea remains part of Ukraine and stating that he lacks the legal authority to recognise Vladimir Putin’s occupation of the peninsula.
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky was described by the White House as “very productive” and took place in what Trump called “the nicest office I’ve ever seen.” He praised Zelensky for “doing a good job [and] working hard,” and noted that Crimea was discussed “very briefly.” Trump also mentioned that Zelensky appeared “calmer” compared to their contentious exchanges earlier in the year over the conflict in Eastern Europe.
This encounter marks a notable shift in President Trump’s public stance on the conflict. In recent social media posts, he suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin might not desire to end the war and could be “tapping me along.” During a news conference on Sunday evening, Trump intensified this theme by urging Russia to “stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal.”
The Express reports these developments in the ongoing diplomatic interactions amid the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.axios.com/2025/04/22/trump-russia-ukraine-peace-plan-crimea-donbas – Corroborates the Trump administration’s peace framework requiring Ukraine to accept Russian control of Crimea and occupied territories, consistent with the article’s claim about Trump’s stance on territorial concessions.
- https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250428-trump-ukraine-zelensky-crimea-russia – Directly supports Trump’s statement that Zelensky is ready to concede Crimea, aligning with the article’s description of Trump’s remarks to reporters.
- https://kyivindependent.com/trump-says-he-believes-zelensky-is-ready-to-give-up-crimea-to-russia/ – Details Trump’s belief about Zelensky’s willingness to cede Crimea and Zelensky’s constitutional rejection of such concessions, matching the article’s claims about their exchange.
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/crimea-will-stay-with-russia-trump-says-as-he-seeks-end-to-war-in-ukraine – Confirms Trump’s assertion that Crimea will remain Russian and his pressure on Ukraine to negotiate, reflecting the article’s emphasis on Trump’s evolving public stance.
- https://www.axios.com/2025/04/22/trump-russia-ukraine-peace-plan-crimea-donbas – Reiterates the White House’s characterization of the proposal as Trump’s ‘final offer,’ consistent with the article’s description of diplomatic pressure on Ukraine.
- https://kyivindependent.com/trump-says-he-believes-zelensky-is-ready-to-give-up-crimea-to-russia/ – Documents Trump’s frustration with Russia’s attacks and his urgency for a peace deal, aligning with the article’s claim about his remarks urging an end to hostilities.
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2047333/trump-zelensky-crimea-russia – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The report references a recent event, such as a meeting at Pope Francis’s funeral, indicating some level of freshness. However, the narrative could be based on older public statements or rumors without specific dates, which reduces its freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quotes from Trump are not commonly found online as original sources from the described setting. If these are original quotes, they could be the first-time usage, but without further context or confirmation, they are difficult to verify fully.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The Express is a well-known publication but may vary in reliability depending on the topic. Its reporting often includes sensational headlines and may lean more towards entertainment than strict factuality.
Plausability check
Score:
5
Notes:
Trump’s comments about Ukraine possibly ceding Crimea to Russia for peace are plausible given past diplomatic rhetoric, but they contradict Zelensky’s public stance. The shift in Trump’s stance is notable, but specific details about the meeting and quotes may lack sufficient context to verify fully.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The report discusses a potentially current event but lacks specific verification of quotes or detailed context about the meeting. The source is generally reliable but may sensationalize, and the plausibility is mixed due to conflicting views on Crimea’s status.
