WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump said a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is “very close,” but criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for refusing to acknowledge any future Russian claim to Crimea. Trump made the remarks Wednesday in a blistering Truth Social post, calling Zelensky’s stance “very harmful” to ongoing negotiations and warning of dire consequences if Kyiv fails to compromise.

Zelensky had reaffirmed Ukraine’s longstanding position Tuesday, telling The Wall Street Journal that “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.” Crimea, a strategic peninsula on the Black Sea, was annexed by Russia in 2014, a move the U.S. and most Western nations never recognized.

In response, Trump accused Zelensky of making “inflammatory statements” that hinder peace efforts. “Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama and is not even a point of discussion,” Trump wrote. “He can have Peace or he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.”

The former president’s social media post coincided with reports that his administration is preparing a peace proposal that would mark a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy. According to Bloomberg, the proposal includes formal U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian territory and “de facto” acknowledgment of Russian control over four additional Ukrainian regions: Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

A senior administration official also told The New York Post that the plan would pause support for Ukraine’s NATO membership bid, lift sanctions on Russia, and promote economic cooperation between the two countries, especially in the energy and industrial sectors.

In exchange, Ukraine would receive European military assistance as part of a post-ceasefire security guarantee, navigation rights on the Dnieper River, and limited territorial concessions, including the return of part of the Kharkiv oblast currently occupied by Russian forces. However, the U.S. would not directly participate in the security guarantees, and funding for post-war reconstruction remains unclear.

Despite Trump’s public optimism, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Wednesday that Kyiv remains firm in its core demands. After meeting with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg in London, Umerov described their talks as “productive,” emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to a ceasefire aligned with international law and territorial integrity.

Trump’s post also referenced a reported Oval Office argument on Feb. 28 between himself, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance, although details of that exchange remain unconfirmed.

Notably, Trump has continued to refrain from publicly criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout the conflict and peace negotiations. Instead, he blames Kyiv for stalling the process. “The man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE,” he wrote.

The proposal marks a stark departure from the U.S.’s longstanding commitment to the Welles Declaration, a Cold War-era doctrine rejecting territorial changes by force. While a U.S. official insisted to The Post that the administration has not abandoned the doctrine, Trump’s plan—if adopted—would represent a major break with that tradition.

The Welles Declaration was first issued in 1940 to oppose the Soviet annexation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and has since served as a cornerstone of American policy regarding occupied territories.

With the war entering its third year and casualties mounting—by Trump’s estimate, 5,000 soldiers from both sides are dying weekly—momentum may be building for a resolution. However, whether the proposed deal can gain acceptance from both Kyiv and Moscow remains uncertain.

As peace negotiations continue, Zelensky remains firm: “There’s nothing to talk about here” when it comes to Crimea. Trump, on the other hand, insists time is running out.