Trump called Zelensky’s remarks about the return of Crimea “not very kind” and commented on the path to NATO.

Donald Trump claimed that President Barack Obama allegedly forced Ukraine to retreat from Crimea. At the same time, according to him, Ukraine’s allies have long realized that NATO membership is not in the cards for Ukraine.

In his interview with Politico, Donald Trump noted that during his first meeting with Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky expressed a desire to return Crimea and join NATO, which he considered “ungracious.” Trump also expressed admiration for Crimea, calling it “very beautiful” and surrounded by water. He emphasized that the peninsula has a better climate and natural conditions, requiring strategic discussion.

According to him, even then, Ukraine’s allies understood that NATO membership for Kyiv was unlikely. Trump stressed that the current position of Moscow in peace negotiations is better than that of Ukraine, creating a difficult geopolitical context for Ukrainian diplomatic efforts.

In the context of developments, it is important to note that the NATO Secretary General noted in early December that the alliance currently lacks consensus on Ukraine’s membership. Meanwhile, the decision made at the Washington summit remains in effect. Meanwhile, CNN reports that the U.S. may seek the possibility of a separate agreement with Russia on the issue of Ukraine’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.