Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy reposts US missive from first Trump term that Crimea is Ukrainian

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that peace talks in London had been marked by “emotions” and pledged that Ukraine would abide by its constitution, which he has previously pointed out forbids surrendering territory such as Crimea. “Emotions have run high today. But it is good that five countries met to bring peace closer,” the Ukrainian president posted. “The American side shared its vision. Ukraine and other Europeans presented their inputs. And we hope that it is exactly such joint work that will lead to lasting peace.”

Zelenskyy posted a 2018 Crimea Declaration from Mike Pompeo, secretary of state during Donald Trump’s his first term, which said: “The United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored.” Trump now appears to be proposing that the US formally recognise Russian control of Crimea – violating the UN Charter and principles that the US has led the way in upholding since the second world war, that borders must not be changed by force.

Zelenskyy’s post came as Trump scolded him for dwelling on Crimea, saying it was harming talks and that “nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognise Crimea”. Trump told reporters later that he thought the London talks had gone “pretty well … we’ve got to get two people, two strong people, two smart people, to agree. And as soon as they agree, the killing will stop.”

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, cancelled his trip to attend the London talks on Wednesday, leading to the cancellation of a broader meeting with foreign ministers from Ukraine, Britain, France and Germany. Downing Street said there were instead meetings with Washington’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and national security advisers from France and Germany. Donald Trump’s friend, the real estate dealer Steve Witkoff, is expected to meet Vladimir Putin again on Friday.

French president Emmanuel Macron’s office said: “Ukraine’s territorial integrity and European aspirations are very strong requirements for Europeans.” A spokesperson for Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, told reporters “it has to be up to Ukraine to decide its future”. Keith Kellogg said the talks with Andriy Yermak in London were positive. “It’s time to move forward on President Trump’s UKR-RU war directive: stop the killing, achieve peace, and put America First,” Kellogg posted.

At least 21 people were injured in Kyiv early on Thursday after a missile attack on the capital. “The 21st casualty was already hospitalised,” said Vitali Klitschko, the Kyiv mayor. He said a three-year-old child was taken to hospital. Military authorities said damage had been reported in at least two districts. Kharkiv was also under missile attack early on Thursday, according to its mayor, Ihor Terekhov, who said explosions had been heard in the city. The Ukrainian air force reported Russian bombers taking off and firing missiles.

Ukraine’s military said on Wednesday that it hit a Russian long-range drone production site in Tatarstan, damaging the final assembly line. Russia extensively uses Shahed and other types of drones for strikes across Ukraine. Ukraine’s general staff said the plant could make 300 drones per day. Reuters could not independently verify the statement.

The death toll rose to nine after a Russian drone hit a bus carrying workers in the Ukrainian city of Marhanets – one of 134 large drones that Ukrainian authorities reported had attacked the country over Tuesday night and into Wednesday.