Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that he cannot go against his country’s constitution on Crimea, after U.S. President Donald Trump accused him of damaging the peace process with Russia over the issue.

Recognition of Crimea as Russian territory was reportedly part of a peace plan proposed by the Trump Administration, but it is a red line for Ukraine, a point made publicly by Zelensky.

Ukraine’s constitution calls Crimea “an inseparable constituent part of Ukraine”.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in a 2014 invasion. The Crimean Peninsula sits on the Black Sea and is strategically significant because it houses Russia’s only warm water port.

Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was a major moment in a long-running chain of actions intended to stop Kyiv’s turn west, particularly its ambition to join NATO.

Zelensky was speaking at a press conference in South Africa during a visit there on Thursday, and emphasized that he remained open to everything Ukraine’s partners suggested to bring about peace, but not contravening the constitution.

The Kremlin had said it is aligned with Trump’s recent comments on Crimea that the Black Sea peninsula is lost to Ukraine and its ownership is not a point of discussion in the peace negotiations.

This is a developing story and more information will be added soon.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky listens as unseen South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at a joint press conference during an official visit by Zelensky to South Africa, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on April… Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky listens as unseen South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at a joint press conference during an official visit by Zelensky to South Africa, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on April 24, 2024. PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images