Putin rebel launches scathing attack on Donald Trump issuing brutal 3-word slap down

Donald Trump has said Crimea is now part of Russia (Image: Getty)

The leader of Crimea's Tatars launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump over his plans to recognise the peninsula as part of Russia. The veteran politician insists Crimea will be liberated from the Russians and restored to Ukraine's sovereignty - no matter what the US President says or thinks.

Vladimir Putin illegally annexed the peninula in 2014, sparking the beginning of the long-running war with Ukraine. Trump and his administration have repeatedly said that Kyiv will have to accept that Crimea is now Russian to secure any future peace deal. The US President explicitly told Time magazine in April that "Crimea will stay with Russia" and that Volodymyr Zelensky "understands that".

Refat Chubarov is the head of the Mejilis of the Crimean Tatar People (Image: Getty)

However, Refat Chubarov told Express.co,uk that it was not in Trump's power or gift to decide the fate of his people's homeland. "Crimea is an integral part of the Ukrainian state and is a historical territory where the indigenous Crimean Tatar people have formed," he said.

"Accordingly, any proposal, regardless by whom - be it Trump or any other leader, to decide the fate of Crimea bypassing Ukraine and the Crimean Tatars, is cynical and simply insignificant. It would be better if Trump just remained silent, closed his mouth."

The 68-year-old is the head of the Mejilis of the Crimean Tatar People - an elected parliamentary body that represents the interests of the ethnic group. Forced to flee Crimea following Vladimir Putin's illegal annexation in 2014, its 33 members are committed to resisting the Russian occupation of their homeland and returning it to Ukraine's sovereignty.

Chubarov argued it was militarily important for the West to ensure that Putin's army is evicted from Crimea.

"Crimea is a very important strategic location in the south," he explained. "Occupying Crimea allows Russia to further expand and threatens Nato's southern flank - specifically the three countries of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey."

Russia has brutally repressed the indigenous Tatars since seizing the territory, forcing many to flee into exile.

However, Chubarov defiantly insists that Tatars will return - no matter what - to their homeland and that Putin will be defeated.

"I can say only one phrase, and it is the absolute truth," he said. "I know that we will definitely return to Crimea.

"I believe that the Russians will leave and the territorial integrity of Ukraine will be restored."