A senior advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, Bryan Lanza, recently clarified that the new administration’s focus on Ukraine would be on peace, not the restoration of lost territories like Crimea. Lanza remarked that if Ukrainian President Zelenskiy insists on Crimea’s return as a condition for peace, it would show that Ukraine is not serious about negotiations. According to Lanza, the goal is to stop the killing and create a “realistic vision for peace.” He emphasized that the U.S. would not engage in military actions to recover Crimea, and peace talks should focus on halting the conflict rather than territorial conquest.
This view stands in contrast to Zelenskiy’s stance, which insists that peace is impossible without the return of all Russian-occupied territories, including Crimea. Zelenskiy’s “victory plan” maintains this demand, alongside an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO. While Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and still controls parts of Ukraine, Zelenskiy remains firm that peace cannot come without the expulsion of Russian forces and the restoration of territorial integrity.
In the meantime, U.S. and Russian relations regarding Ukraine continue to evolve. Despite the differences in approach, Trump has maintained a desire to find a quick resolution to the war, claiming he could end the conflict “within a day,” although details on how this would be achieved remain vague. The diplomatic back-and-forth, coupled with global concern about the war’s ongoing impact, sets the stage for the next chapter in international relations, as U.S. policy under Trump becomes clearer in the coming months.
While the Trump administration has repeatedly stated that they aim to broker peace, the challenge will be in balancing this goal with the territorial and strategic demands of Ukraine, Russia, and NATO allies. With the conflict ongoing for over two years, the international community is watching closely as the U.S. transitions into its new leadership.
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