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By Jordan King
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Crimea, an Eastern European peninsula, is becoming increasingly central to the outcome of peace negotiations in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with Newsweek breaking down how and why.
The Context
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.
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"Crimea will stay with Russia," Trump told Time magazine in an interview that was published on Friday about his first 100 days back in office.
The president is currently in talks to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine, which would be settled by handing over 20 percent of Ukrainian territory to Russia.
On Thursday, Zelensky said during a visit to South Africa that Kyiv remained open to everything Ukraine's partners suggested to bring about peace but not to contravene the country's constitution, which refers to Crimea as "an inseparable constituent part of Ukraine."
"Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday night, "but, 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?"
This was in response to Zelensky recently telling reporters that Ukraine "will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There's nothing to talk about."
The History
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 following the ouster of Ukraine's pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych.
Amid the political upheaval, Russian forces without insignia swiftly took control of the peninsula's government buildings and military bases. Russia then organized a referendum—deemed illegitimate by Kyiv and the international community—in which it claimed overwhelming support for joining Russia.
This marked the first forcible annexation of European territory since World War II. No Western country formally recognized the move, and the United Nations General Assembly passed resolutions affirming Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea.
For Ukraine, the annexation was not only a national humiliation but a flashpoint for wider aggression. Russia's seizure of Crimea set the stage for its later incursions into Eastern Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion launched in February 2022.
Why Is Crimea So Important?
Crimea's strategic value lies in its geography and infrastructure. It extends deep into the Black Sea, allowing military forces stationed there to project power across southeastern Europe and into the Mediterranean.
Crimea is home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, key airbases, and logistics hubs crucial for operations in southern Ukraine. Control over the peninsula enhances Russia's capacity to disrupt Ukrainian trade routes, particularly grain exports.
Military analysts also note that Russia's ability to launch missile strikes into Ukraine often originates from Crimean territory. The region serves as a critical supply chain node for Russian forces operating in occupied southern Ukraine.
For Putin, retaining Crimea carries not only strategic but also symbolic value. The annexation is a cornerstone of his effort to reassert Russian dominance in former Soviet spaces. But this same symbolic weight makes Crimea a vulnerable point for Moscow; any serious Ukrainian incursion could undermine Putin's image of control and embolden domestic dissent.
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What People Are Saying
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in South Africa earlier this week: "We do everything that our partners have proposed, only what contradicts our legislation and the constitution we cannot do."
Orysia Lutsevych, a Ukraine expert with the Chatham House think tank, told The Guardian: "The obsession with Crimea has a military strategic reasoning, although its symbolic importance to Putin also means he wants it as part of his legacy. Ukraine also recognizes that his desire for Crimea also makes it an Achilles heel for his regime, if it can show he cannot control it."
President Donald Trump said in his interview with Time: "I think what caused the war to start was when they [Ukraine] started talking about joining NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization]."
What Happens Next?
As peace negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether Zelensky's government will face increased international pressure to compromise or whether Washington will turn the pressure onto Moscow.
Trump fired a rare piece of direct criticism at Putin on Thursday morning, following deadly strikes on Kyiv overnight in an attack Zelensky described as one of Russia's "most outrageous."
"I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Friday to discuss U.S. proposals for peace directly with Putin.
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