Fact Check: Did Trump Ask Putin to Take Only Crimea and Forget the Rest of Ukraine?

A DBUNK subscriber submitted a request to verify claims surrounding former President Donald Trump’s February 12th phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, specifically questioning whether Trump suggested that Putin should settle for Crimea and abandon the rest of Ukraine. Here’s what we found.

What The CNN Article Claims

The CNN report states that Trump and Putin held a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call, where they discussed Ukraine among other topics. Trump is quoted as saying that negotiations to end the war in Ukraine would start “immediately.” However, the article does not mention any specific proposal for Putin to take Crimea and leave the rest of Ukraine.

Did Trump Really Make This Suggestion?

There is no confirmed evidence from the call, the official readouts, or Trump’s public statements that he explicitly urged Putin to only take Crimea in exchange for giving up the rest of Ukraine. Trump’s own Truth Social post summarizing the conversation does not mention any such proposal. The Kremlin’s statement on the call also lacks any reference to this claim.

However, the article notes that Trump has spoken about making a deal with Ukraine involving rare earth minerals, which could indicate a different kind of negotiation. Without direct evidence, attributing this specific proposal to Trump is misleading.

Missing Context & Bias in the Article

While the report remains largely factual, there are gaps in context that could lead to misinterpretations:

• The article strongly implies that Trump’s approach to ending the war might be softer on Russia compared to the Biden administration, yet provides no substantive evidence of specific concessions.
• There is substantial focus on Trump’s relationship with Putin, with quotes stating they had a “great friendship,” but this is speculative and does not confirm any policy decisions.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s statement about Ukraine and NATO is presented as a new Trump administration stance, but it lacks a direct White House confirmation.

The Verdict: No Evidence That Trump Told Putin to Take Crimea

There is no verified evidence that Trump made a direct offer for Russia to take only Crimea and leave the rest of Ukraine. The claim cannot be supported by any official readout or Trump’s own statements. While there are discussions of negotiation and a shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities, the assumption that Trump made this specific proposal is unfounded.

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