Trump criticizes Zelensky for not recognizing Russia's control over the Crimean Peninsula.

President Donald Trump criticized his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky today, Wednesday, for saying "Ukraine will not recognize Russia's control over the Crimean Peninsula," describing it as "an inflammatory statement" that will make it difficult to reach a peace agreement with Russia. Trump wrote on "Truth Social" platform: "This statement is extremely harmful to peace negotiations with Russia," pointing out that the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, was lost years ago "and is not even up for discussion." Trump considered his Russian counterpart as having "no cards in hand" and accused him of "prolonging the massacres" by refusing to acknowledge Moscow's sovereignty over Crimea after its annexation in 2014. The American president had previously warned that Washington might withdraw if progress is not made towards reaching an agreement soon. Media outlets revealed details this week of an American proposal that would lead Kyiv and Moscow to reach a peace agreement by officially recognizing that the Crimean Peninsula is "Russian territory," in addition to Moscow's continued control over most of the Ukrainian territories it has taken over.