Government Slaps Down Trump's Plan To Hand Crimea Over To Russia In Exchange For Peace

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters after signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Washington.The government has rejected Donald Trump’s proposal for Ukraine to formally cede the occupied territory of Crimea to Russia.US vice president JD Vance confirmed on Wednesday the US’s peace deal would involve “freezing” territorial lines “close to where they are today”.Vladimir Putin’s forces annexed Crimea in 2014.Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly rejected the idea, pointing out that his country’s constitution makes clear that Crimea is Ukrainian.Trump then attacked his Ukrainian counterpart, writing on social media: “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?”Responding to MPs’ concerns about Trump’s plan today in the Commons, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty – including its claim on Crimea.He said: “The UK’s position regarding Ukrainian sovereignty is well-known and has not changed.“We do not recognise Russian sovereignty over any territory illegally seized from Ukraine, including Crimea.“How and when this war ends can only be decided by negotiations with Ukraine at the heart of them.”He also told MPs: “We have been very very clear we share the United States’ desire to bring this barbaric war to an end.“Ultimately though, it is for Ukraine to decide its future and our position on that has not changed, that’s why we are working closely with our international partners and others to end the bloodshed and suffering caused by Russia.”Stephen Doughty(Foreign Office Minister):"We do not recognise Russian sovereignty over any territory illegally seized from Ukraine, including Crimea..." pic.twitter.com/VtgMGtfolx— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) April 24, 2025Keir Starmer’s official spokesman tried to play down any suggestion of a split with the White House by insisting “we share President Trump’s desire to bring this barbaric war to an end”.But he also insisted that any peace deal can only be struck with Ukraine’s full agreement.He said: “We have always been clear that how and on what terms [the war ends] can only be deciding in negotiations with Ukraine at the heart of them.”Related...Trump Attacks Zelenskyy Yet Again, Accusing Ukraine's President Of 'Inflammatory Statements' Over CrimeaFarage Accused of 'Parroting Putin' For Suggesting Ukraine Give Up Crimea For PeaceRussia Fears Ukraine Could Launch 'Direct Assault' On Occupied Crimea, Says UK

Comments

Breaking news

The threat from the far-right is real, but will Swinney's democracy summit work?

Comments

Similar News

Trump, Russia Aligned on Crimea: Peskov

Trump says he is 'not happy' with Russia's overnight missile attack on Kyiv and urges: 'Vladimir, STOP! Let's get the peace deal done!'

Key Trump Ally Slams The US Peace Plan For Ukraine: 'It Rewards Putin Too Much'

Trump slates Ukraine for not ceding land to Putin as he warns Zelensky to accept peace deal

Trump rages at Putin over harrowing Kyiv blitz saying ‘Vladimir, STOP!’ as Ukraine peace deal hangs in the balance

Zelensky Doubles Down on Crimea After Trump Attack

Crimea is key to Trump's peace plan - here's why Zelensky can't give it up

Ex-defence secretary Grant Shapps suggests Whitehall secrecy rule stops him revealing why Donald Trump is in 'cahoots' with Vladimir Putin - as US tells Ukraine to give up Crimea

Donald Trump Pleads With Putin to Stop Attacking Ukraine: 'Vladimir, STOP!'

Attacked on both sides: Putin launches major drone strike on Kyiv after Donald Trump blasted Zelensky for 'harming peace negotiations' and told him to give up land to Russia

Trump Says He's Not Happy With Putin And Urges Him To 'STOP' After A Deadly Attack On Kyiv

Donald Trump pleads ‘Vladimir stop’ after Putin’s deadly strikes on Kyiv

Trump Says Zelensky Is The Stumbling Block to Peace in Ukraine, Will Meet With Putin Soon

Why Crimea matters so much to Putin – and now Trump

Russia Says Zelensky Wants to 'Torpedo' Ukraine Peace Talks

Donald Trump launches scathing attack on Zelensky and warns wartime leader to back his peace deal and forfeit land to Putin or lose ALL of Ukraine

Trump complains Zelensky harder to deal with than Russia in peace talks

‘Back Trump plan or be crushed’: Haunting reason Putin chose today to launch crippling Kyiv blitz on ‘cornered’ Zelensky

Poland Urges Ukraine, Russia 'Compromise' as Trump Threatens to Walk Away

Breaking news

The threat from the far-right is real, but will Swinney's democracy summit work?

Ping-pong pensioner still king of the swingers at 81-years-old

Center Parcs unveils further details for proposed Scottish site

Why is there a 'murder hole' marked on maps in Galloway?

Fake paramedic raped and sexually assaulted women he met on Tinder

Footballer Lucas Akins jailed for killing cyclist in crash while driving his children

Fifth of humanity could be ruled by one of the most conservative leaders

‘It’s not enough’: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle call for tighter social media controls for children

Bonobos in Congo form girl groups to fend off male aggression, study says

A French high school student is arrested after fatally stabbing another student and wounding 3

New online safety rules will force tech firms to change, Ofcom insists

Natalia Lafourcade’s alter ego takes center stage in ‘Cancionera’

Trump science cuts roil university labs, targeting bird feeder research, AI literacy work and more

Why Crimea matters so much to Putin – and now Trump

Green energy supporters pushed for faster permitting. Trump is doing it, but not for solar or wind

Woman accused of illegal abortion ‘brought foetus to hospital’

New York man took Elon Musk at his word that Teslas could drive themselves. Then he hit a tree

New Jersey wildfire mapped: Flames spread as teen is accused of not extinguishing bonfire that started blaze

Bob Costas wins Baseball Digest lifetime achievement award

Charge homeowners with swimming pools and big gardens more for water, industry urges

Sir Keir Starmer unveils £2bn carbon capture deal creating 2,000 jobs

Trump asks Supreme Court to allow ban on transgender members of the military to take effect, for now

Tariff turmoil: What P&G, Pepsi and other companies are saying about tariffs

How Social Security claimants are being ‘resurrected’ after DOGE falsely declares them dead

Trump-appointed judge orders government to ‘facilitate’ return of another deported asylum seeker sent to El Salvador

White House hits back at ‘talentless’ Jimmy Kimmel after Hegseth roast: ‘Severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome’

Jack Schlossberg issues wild challenge to cousin RFK Jr in ongoing feud

'Monster' no longer seeking parole in victory for Scots mum and teen who suffered abuse

West Lothian hotel's leisure club goes the egg-stra mile for children at Easter

West Lothian village to get 48 new homes despite pressure on health services

Lanarkshire thrill-seekers urged to sign up to abseil down the Forth Road Bridge

Vandals torch children's beloved story characters within Ayrshire beauty spot

Bridge of Allan £16million flood scheme set to take step forward

Ex SPFL footballer jailed for 14 months after killing cyclist in devastating Mercedes crash

Furious West Lothian home owner ordered to tear down fence protecting her home

House fire horror as Glasgow family flee late-night blaze

Drama club joins in knitted postbox topper craze with VE Day theme ahead of latest show

Scots nursery worker told mum tot 'does her head in' in shocking outburst

Project team gains important funding boost for historic Girvan bandstand transformation

New £11million walking and cycling route project around Stirling launched

'Best' personality quiz can show your true character with just three questions

Constance Marten: 'We did everything we could' to protect baby&#160;

The 3G switch-off: Will your mobile phone still work in coming months?

JoJo Siwa receives cold four-word message from partner ahead of CBB final

EFL footballer handed prison sentence after crashing Mercedes and killing cyclist

Mum poured a glass of milk - then her son was arrested for attempted murder

Nursery teacher SACKED as pupil's mum finds husband buying racy OnlyFans snaps online

Brit, 22, plunges to death in horror paragliding crash after parachute malfunction

Zara McDermott just shared the Medik8 serum she swears by for reducing pigmentation

Tragic final moments of paddleboarders sucked into 'washing machine' weir

Prince Harry's latest battle 'like red rag to a bull' amid 'great sadness' in life

Benidorm horror as 'body washes up on beach' with no ID at Brit-loved holiday spot

Charlie Sheen now - HIV update, 'dire' money woes and cheap fan videos

Dad 'haunted' by son's chilling final words before wife smothered three kids to death

'I was crushed in 3-tonne hydraulic press, my ribs broke and I prepared to die'

Gareth Gates now from Katie Price romp to money woes and hair transplant

Gardener's 'simple' trick to transform waterlogged lawns into healthy grass

“Hurt and anger” over Hillsborough Law could impact Runcorn by-election

Constance Marten: 'We did everything we could' to protect baby