Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Eight years later, Russia invaded Ukraine and occupied eastern Ukraine.
The president-elect has consistently said his priority is ending the war and stemming the drain of American resources in the form of military aid to Ukraine.
But he has not yet revealed his intentions, and we will likely hear competing visions for Ukraine’s future from a variety of advisers.
Mr. Lanza, who was a political adviser to Mr. Trump during the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections, did not comment on eastern Ukraine but said retaking Crimea from Russia was unrealistic and “not a goal of the United States.”
He told the BBC World Service’s weekend program: “When Zelenskyy said we will stop this fighting, there will be peace only if Crimea is returned. I told President Zelenskyy that Crimea was gone.” He said.
“And if that is your priority, to take back Crimea and have American soldiers fight to take back Crimea, then you have to make your own choice.”
The United States has never deployed U.S. troops to fight in Ukraine, and has never asked Kiev to fight on its behalf. Ukraine has requested military assistance from the United States solely for the purpose of arming its own soldiers.
Prime Minister Lanza said he had enormous respect for the Ukrainian people, who “have the heart of a lion.” But he said America’s priorities are “peace and stopping the killings.”
“What we are saying to Ukraine is, do you know what you see? What do you see as a realistic vision of peace? It is not a vision for victory, but a vision for peace. And let’s start an honest dialogue.” .
In response, Zelensky’s adviser Dmytro Lytvyn characterized Lanza’s comments as putting pressure on Ukraine for peace when it was “Putin who wants more war.”
“President Putin was attacked on the front lines and lost most of his people. What does this mean? It is clear that he wants to keep fighting,” he said.
“Ukraine has been proposing peace since 2022. There are quite realistic proposals. And it is Russia who needs to hear that peace is needed and that peace must be credible so that Russian attacks are not repeated.”
A spokeswoman for Trump’s transition team preparing to launch the next administration said Lanza was a “campaign contractor” but “does not work for President Trump or speak on his behalf.”
President Trump is expected to hold peace talks with his close associates after taking office.
An unnamed National Security Council aide who previously worked under President Trump told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday: “No matter how high up Trump’s team is, he has a different view or a more detailed view of his plans for Ukraine.” “Whoever is making the claims is probably not a member of Trump’s inner circle,” he said. Know what he’s talking about.”
They said the former president “made his own decisions on national security matters” and had done so “on numerous occasions.”
Trump spoke with Zelensky on the phone after being elected, and billionaire Elon Musk also participated in the call.
