ISTANBUL 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected US criticism Wednesday over Kyiv’s refusal to recognize Russia’s occupation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform that Zelenskyy’s red line on Crimea being excluded from negotiations with Russia is "very harmful" to ongoing peace talks.

“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory,”

“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory 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?" he said.

Zelenskyy said Tuesday during a press conference in Kyiv that there is “nothing to talk about” concerning the issue because it is against the country’s constitution.

“Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution and we are absolutely sure that our partners in particular the USA will act in line with its strong decisions,” he said in a post on X in response to Trump's statement.

Zelenskyy’s post also included a photo of the Crimea Declaration, a 2018 statement issued by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in which he said the US rejected Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and “pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored.”

Zelenskyy also commented on peace talks in London earlier Wednesday with the efforts of France and the UK, saying that Kyiv hopes such joint work will lead to a “lasting peace” in his country.

“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 contributed meaningfully,” he added.