Zelenskyy Cites Former U.S. Secretary’s Statement on Crimea: “Borders Can’t Be Changed by Force”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cited a 2018 statement from former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to reaffirm Ukraine's refusal to accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea, following a heated exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump over a proposed peace deal.

The dispute unfolded during a new round of negotiations in London involving officials from Ukraine, the U.S., the U.K., France, and Germany. The talks focused on possible terms to end the ongoing war, but were overshadowed by disagreements over Crimea’s status.

President Trump reportedly insisted that Crimea should now be considered Russian territory and criticized Zelenskyy for his refusal to agree. “Crimea was lost years ago and is not even a point of discussion,” Trump said.

In response, Zelenskyy posted a message on social media expressing gratitude to partner nations for their support and reasserting Ukraine’s position. He wrote: “Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution and we are absolutely sure that our partners, in particular the USA, will act in line with its strong decisions.” The post was accompanied by a copy of a public statement made by Secretary Pompeo in 2018, which reads:

“No country can change the borders of another by force... The United States reaffirms as policy its refusal to recognize the Kremlin’s claims of sovereignty over territory seized by force in contravention of international law.”

Pompeo’s statement condemned Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and called for the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Zelenskyy’s use of the statement appeared to counter growing pressure from Washington to accept current frontlines as the basis for peace.

The Trump administration's proposed peace plan reportedly includes two controversial demands aligned with Moscow’s interests: recognition of Crimea as Russian territory and a permanent ban on Ukrainian NATO membership. Ukraine has rejected both points.

Zelenskyy made clear that ceding Crimea remains a non-starter for Kyiv. “Ukraine will not recognise Russia's annexation of Crimea. There's nothing to talk about here,” he said.

The exchange triggered a sharp rebuke from President Trump, who accused Zelensky of sabotaging peace efforts. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that!”

He added, “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognise Crimea as Russian territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”

U.S. Vice President JD Vance backed Trump’s position, warning that if both sides fail to agree, the U.S. could walk away from the negotiations entirely. “The only way to really stop the killing is for the armies to both put down their weapons,” he said.

Zelenskyy chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, responded by affirming that Ukraine would “stand firm on its core principles,” particularly those related to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Critics of the U.S. proposal have warned that recognizing Crimea as Russian would breach international law and encourage future land grabs elsewhere. Some experts warn that forcing Ukraine to accept Russian terms with minimal concessions from Moscow is not diplomacy — it’s rewarding aggression and pushing Ukraine toward outright surrender.

Security analyst Aaron Gasch Burnett told the Kyiv Independent, “The Russians get everything they want… The U.S. is essentially trying to negotiate Ukraine's surrender, and the U.S. is surrendering its own international leadership by doing it.”

The Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014 following the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian president. The move was widely condemned and remains unrecognized by most countries, including the U.S. — a stance now questioned under Trump’s administration.