(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected U.S. calls to relinquish claims to Crimea or make territorial concessions to Russia. Speaking on Independence Day in Kiev’s Maidan Square, Zelensky pledged to reclaim Crimea, as well as the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, and the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, all of which joined Russia following referendums in 2014 and 2022.

“All of this is Ukraine… and no temporary occupation can change that. One day… we will be together again as one country. It’s only a matter of time,” Zelensky declared, emphasizing his refusal to accept compromises on Ukrainian territory.

While former U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed “land swaps” as part of peace talks, he stated that Crimea’s return to Ukraine is impossible. Trump has suggested a direct meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin could accelerate peace negotiations, but urged Kiev to show flexibility on territorial claims.

Russia has indicated it may meet with Zelensky only after concrete progress in negotiations. Moscow insists that any settlement must include Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and formal recognition of Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye as Russian territory.

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