**Ukraine Rejects Russia’s Occupation of Crimea, Warns Against Legitimizing Putin’s Game**
In a strong statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out recognizing Russia’s occupation of Crimea under any circumstances. Speaking in Kyiv on April 22, Zelensky emphasized that the issue of Crimea is not up for discussion and violates Ukraine’s Constitution.
“This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” Zelensky told reporters during a briefing. “There is nothing to talk about.” His statement comes as reports emerge of a U.S.-backed proposal to end the war in Ukraine, which includes recognizing Crimea as Russian territory.
However, Zelensky warned that any discussion of Crimea risks shifting negotiations into a framework dictated by the Kremlin. He said such proposals play directly into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “game” and will prolong the war.
“As soon as talks about Crimea and our sovereign territories begin, the talks enter the format that Russia wants — prolonging the war – because it will not be possible to agree on everything quickly,” Zelensky added. He emphasized that Ukraine would reject immediately any official proposal to recognize Crimea as Russian territory.
**Ukraine Presents Its Position at London Meeting**
The statement comes ahead of a follow-up meeting in London on April 23, where delegations from Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France will continue discussions. Zelensky said the Ukrainian delegation going to London will have a mandate to discuss terms for a full or partial ceasefire with Russia.
Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia in any format but only after an unconditional halt to hostilities, he added. Zelensky also stressed that sustained international pressure, especially from the United States, is necessary to reach a meaningful settlement.
“We’ve been at war for over 11 years,” Zelensky said. “Is it possible to reach an agreement with Russia quickly? No, it is not. It is impossible without pressure.”
**U.S.-backed Proposal and Sanctions**
The proposal to end the war in Ukraine has been met with frustration from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has so far avoided imposing any major sanctions or taking punitive action against Moscow.
Despite this, Zelensky remains hopeful that sustained international pressure will lead to a meaningful settlement. “We know where these signals are sounding and will continue to sound,” he said, adding that he was unsure whether they originated from Russia or certain U.S. representatives engaged in dialogue with Putin.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Ukraine’s position on Crimea remains unwavering, and any attempt to legitimize Russia’s occupation of the territory will be met with strong resistance from Kyiv.
