The question of Crimea’s ownership remains on the table for U.S. policymakers in the future. This stance was echoed in remarks by White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during an interview with NBC News.
“The future of Crimea is a matter to be resolved later. That is the direction we are heading,” he said.
According to Sullivan, Kyiv should shift its focus away from reclaiming the peninsula in the near term and instead pursue achievable, short‑term objectives that could tilt the battlefield in Ukraine’s favor with support from the United States and allied partners. He stressed that any gains should, in time, help restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity in full.
“What ultimately happens to Crimea in the context of this war and its resolution is for Ukrainians to decide, with American backing,” he emphasized.
Asked about Washington’s role in discussing Crimea’s future status, Sullivan noted that the White House does not intend to engage in debates about sovereignty in third countries. The immediate priority is to help initiate peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
A White House representative, speaking on CNN earlier, could not provide a definite answer about U.S. support if Ukraine chooses to take back Crimea by force.
“I cannot answer yes or no to a hypothetical development of events,” Sullivan explained, adding that President Zelensky is focused on strengthening Ukraine’s battlefield position and, later, its negotiating leverage.
Earlier, on February 26, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram that reclaiming Crimea would help restore peace in Ukraine.
“We will restore peace by taking back Crimea. This is our land. Our people. Our history. We will return the Ukrainian flag to every corner of Ukraine,” he declared.
The head of Crimea’s parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, responded that Zelensky could visit Crimea only if the Ukrainian side signs a surrender. He mocked Kyiv by saying Ukraine still bears the wounds of Crimea and that the peninsula will not be handed over until a Ukrainian surrender is signed. He added that Kyiv might endure a symbolic discomfort to illustrate the point, a remark that drew sharp commentary from RIA Novosti.
Meanwhile, Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, stated that in the spring the Armed Forces of Ukraine could be ready for a counteroffensive in the southern sector.
Crimea’s higher political body, the Crimean State Duma, dismissed such declarations as populist and aimed at Western audiences to keep NATO weapons flowing into Ukraine.
Since early 2023, Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials have reiterated plans to reclaim Crimea by force, tying the peninsula’s return to the start of broader peace negotiations. Recently, Victoria Nuland, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, signaled Washington’s support for Kyiv’s stance to strike what it views as legitimate Russian military targets on the peninsula.
Since the start of the special operation, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted both military and civilian sites in Crimea, primarily using drones. One notable strike occurred on October 29, 2022, when Sevastopol’s port faced damage from kamikaze drones, affecting three Russian ships. In late 2022, there were several drone attack attempts on the peninsula that were thwarted. On February 16, Sevastopol’s governor reported that air defense systems shot down two UAVs over the Black Sea. — This summary reflects the ongoing military activity and strategic statements surrounding Crimea as reported by multiple outlets.