Trump Pushes Ukraine to Cede Territory to Russia -- Suggests Crimea Recognition and NATO Neutrality (2022-05-2022-10)

Over the course of the spring and summer of 2022, Trump repeatedly signals that Ukraine should be forced to accept Russian territorial gains to end the war. He suggests recognizing Crimea as Russian territory and calls for Ukraine to adopt neutrality -- abandoning its NATO aspirations. Trump's position aligns with the Kremlin's negotiating demands, even as the Biden administration and European allies supply Ukraine with the weapons to fight. This pattern of siding with Putin's negotiating position continues throughout Trump's 2024 campaign, where he famously claims he could end the war "in 24 hours" by pressuring Ukraine to surrender territory.