Trump's Views on NATO and Crimea in the Ukraine Conflict

According to RIA Novosti, in an interview with Time magazine on April 25, US President Donald Trump shared his views on the end of the conflict in Ukraine.

President Trump said Crimea would remain part of Russia under the settlement. “Everybody understands that, including President Volodymyr Zelensky,” Trump said.

According to the US leader, this conflict occurred because of talk in Ukraine about joining NATO. Meanwhile, Kiev is unlikely to join the North Atlantic Alliance.

President Trump said that settlement talks were going well and that a deal was close, but he acknowledged that his reference to ending the conflict in a day was “an exaggeration and a metaphor.”

“However, no one but me can do this,” President Trump affirmed, and said that if an agreement is reached, the US may cooperate economically with Russia and Ukraine.

On the same day, Reuters published a US draft of a solution for Ukraine. Some of the main points are as follows: Lift sanctions against Russia; legally recognize Crimea and four new territories under Russian control; move towards a permanent ceasefire and immediately start negotiations between Russia and Ukraine; Ukraine refuses to seek NATO membership; Ukraine will be able to work towards EU membership; ensure Kiev's security, primarily in Europe; return territory in the Kharkiv region to Ukraine; restore Kiev's control over the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, but this plant is managed by the US; ensure the smooth passage of Ukrainian ships along the Dnieper River; Washington and Kiev implement an agreement on mineral resources and economic cooperation.