Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says ’emotions running high’ during peace talks in London, declines to recognise Crimea | World News

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged on Wednesday that the peace talks in London to get an amicable solution of Russia-Ukraine war have been marked “emotions” and vowed to abide the constitution of Ukraine, expressing hope that future joint work would eventually lead the two warring nations to peace.
The peace talks in London were being led representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States. Since the negotiations for a ceasefire have stumbled recently, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned that America could “move on” if progress isn’t made towards ending the hostilities.
In a post on X, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated “Emotions have run high today. But it is good that 5 countries met to bring peace closer. The American side shared its vision. Ukraine and other Europeans presented their inputs.”

Emotions have run high today. But it is good that 5 countries met to bring peace closer. Ukraine, the USA, the UK, France and Germany. The sides expressed their views and respectfully received each other’s positions. It’s important that each side was not just a participant but… pic.twitter.com/lDFV5WK8tw
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 23, 2025
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine would act in accordance with its Constitution, and hoped that the US would act in line with its strong decisions. The Ukrainian president added a copy of a statement made the then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term which called for Russia to end its occupation of Crimea.
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Russia had seized Crimea in 2014 after an uprising in Kyiv made the then Kremlin friendly president of Ukraine flee the country. Zelenskyy has clearly stated on Tuesday that Ukraine wouldn’t recognise Crimea, stating “There’s nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution.”

Trump, who already had altercations with Zelenskyy in February during a meeting in the Oval Office, termed the statement the Ukrainian president as inflammatory and added that he was making it harder to reach a consensus on a peace deal.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that Trump’s patience with Zelenskyy was “running very thin” and that the Ukrainian president “seems to be moving in the wrong direction,” Reuters reported.
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