President Donald Trump once again put the spotlight on U.S. foreign policy in Eastern Europe, this time by blaming former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden for what he described as a “giant failure” that continues to haunt negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, Trump argued that the annexation of Crimea more than a decade ago was essentially handed to Russia, without resistance, by the prior Democratic administrations.
His comments came at a moment of heightened tension, as Russia launched new missile strikes even while discussions were underway about possible peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Trump, the renewed violence underscored the stakes—and revealed the failures of U.S. diplomacy in the past.
Trump’s Charge: “They Gave It Away”
“Crimea was given away by Barack Hussein Obama, and by Biden, like 11 or 12 years ago,” Trump told reporters. “Nobody brought it up for over a decade, and now they’re bringing it up again. Maybe Zelensky should ask Obama why they gave it up without a shot being fired.”
The annexation of Crimea in 2014 remains one of the most consequential moments in recent European history. Russia’s move, condemned by the United Nations and never formally recognized by the international community, shifted the security landscape and laid the groundwork for Moscow’s ongoing military campaign against Ukraine.
For Trump, the central point is not just that Russia acted, but that U.S. leaders at the time failed to stop it. His critique is consistent with his long-standing narrative that Democratic administrations were weak on foreign policy and failed to deter America’s adversaries.
Background: How Crimea Was Lost
To understand Trump’s remarks, it’s important to revisit the history of Crimea. The peninsula, located on the Black Sea, has been of immense strategic and cultural significance for centuries. It was transferred from Russia to Ukraine in 1954, during the Soviet era, but Russia maintained its naval base at Sevastopol even after Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
In February 2014, following the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych, Russian troops moved into Crimea. Within weeks, Moscow organized a controversial referendum that claimed overwhelming support for joining Russia. Western nations denounced the vote as illegitimate, but the Kremlin proceeded with annexation.
The Obama administration responded with economic sanctions against Russia, but the measures were limited and did not reverse the annexation. Critics, including Trump, have argued that Obama and then-Vice President Biden failed to act decisively enough, essentially cementing Russia’s control of Crimea.
Ukraine’s Non-Negotiable Red Line
For Ukraine, Crimea has remained a red line in all discussions about peace. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly declared that any settlement must involve the restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty over the peninsula.
“The war began with Crimea and must end with Crimea—and its liberation,” Zelenskyy said in 2022, a position he reiterated ahead of this year’s talks.
Recent reports suggest that U.S. officials have floated a potential ceasefire proposal that would involve freezing current frontlines and, in effect, recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea. While such an arrangement could halt hostilities in the short term, it would force Ukraine to relinquish its claim to territory that remains central to its national identity and long-term security.
Trump, for his part, signaled that while he wants Putin to “stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal,” he is not willing to ignore the role past U.S. leaders played in creating the current situation.
Missile Strikes Undermine Peace Talks
Trump’s remarks came against the backdrop of new Russian strikes, which threatened to derail preparations for negotiations. Putin had initially proposed the talks as Western nations considered tougher sanctions unless Moscow agreed to a 30-day truce.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia would send a delegation to Istanbul but would not say whether Putin himself would attend. For Ukraine, however, the willingness to engage was overshadowed by the fact that Russia continued military operations even as discussions were being arranged.
The timing of the strikes reinforced skepticism in Kyiv and Washington about Moscow’s intentions. Zelenskyy’s government, already wary of compromise, has emphasized that Russia cannot be trusted to honor any agreement unless there are binding guarantees of Ukrainian sovereignty.
Trump’s Broader Foreign Policy Argument
Trump’s framing of Crimea as a failure by Obama and Biden aligns with his larger foreign policy narrative. From his first campaign in 2016 through his presidency and now his return to the White House, Trump has argued that U.S. interventionist policies have weakened the country while failing to secure meaningful gains.
He frequently contrasts his own “peace through strength” approach with what he describes as Democratic weakness. In this case, pointing to the annexation of Crimea allows him to argue that the Democrats effectively abandoned Ukraine’s territorial integrity years before the current full-scale conflict erupted.
It also reflects his belief that peace is best achieved through direct, pragmatic negotiations rather than extended military commitments or multilateral diplomacy. By blaming Obama and Biden for “giving away” Crimea, Trump signals that his focus is not on revisiting history but on pushing for a concrete settlement now.
The Domestic Political Dimension
Trump’s remarks also carry weight in U.S. domestic politics. By criticizing Obama and Biden, he reinforces a theme that appeals to his base: that Democrats are incapable of defending American interests abroad.
This framing also helps Trump contrast himself with current Democratic leaders who continue to advocate for strong military and financial support for Ukraine. By pointing to what he calls past failures, Trump sets up his position as a corrective, presenting himself as the leader who can broker peace where others faltered.
Democrats, for their part, are likely to counter that Trump’s emphasis on negotiating with Putin risks legitimizing Russian aggression and undermining U.S. alliances in Europe. For them, the restoration of Crimea to Ukraine remains a necessary condition of any durable peace.
A Complex Path Ahead
The road to peace in Ukraine remains fraught with obstacles. Russia shows no sign of withdrawing from Crimea or other occupied territories, while Ukraine continues to insist that no agreement is possible without full restoration of its borders.
The United States, meanwhile, is divided over how far it should go in supporting Ukraine’s war effort versus pushing for negotiations. Trump’s comments reflect one pole of this debate—skeptical of past interventions, critical of Democratic foreign policy, and focused on achieving a deal even if it means leaving some issues unresolved.
Conclusion: Revisiting Old Fault Lines
Trump’s criticism of Obama and Biden over Crimea may resonate politically, but it also underscores the enduring difficulty of resolving the conflict. More than a decade after Russia’s annexation, the peninsula remains at the heart of one of the world’s most dangerous geopolitical crises.
As negotiations inch forward—amid missile strikes, entrenched positions, and competing visions of peace—the legacy of past U.S. decisions continues to shape the present. For Trump, calling out that legacy is both a political weapon and a justification for his own approach.
Whether it leads to real progress, however, remains uncertain. What is clear is that the “giant failure” of Crimea still looms large over any effort to end the war.
