Why Crimea Matters for the War in Ukraine – and for a Potential Peace

4 weeks ago 16

A statement by President Trump sparks a defiant response in Ukraine

Maxar ‘AFTER” satellite imagery of the reported attack on a Russian Ropucha-class landing ship at the eastern Crimean port of Feodosia. The remains of the ship can be seen smoking and largely submerged. (Satellite image (c) 2023 Maxar Technologies via Getty Images)

Posted: May 7th, 2025

EXPERT INTERVIEWS – Mention “the war“ to Ukrainians and they will likely date the conflict not to Russia’s February 2022 invasion of their country, but to the Russian occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea eight years earlier. Now Crimea is back in the headlines, because of a White House peace plan that would include U.S. recognition of Russian control of Crimea.

“Crimea will stay with Russia,” President Donald Trump told Time Magazine last week.

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