Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently doubled down on his position that Kyiv will not accept any peace proposal that recognizes Crimea as Russian despite President Donald Trump's threats to walk away from peace processes.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump said in an interview published on Friday that “Crimea will stay with Russia,” the latest example of the U.S. leader pressuring Ukraine to make concessions to end the war while it remains under siege.

The Trump administration is pursuing a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine to halt the fighting after more than three years.