US President Donald Trump has said he thinks his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, is willing to hand over Crimea to Russia as part of a peace deal, despite Kiev’s previous rejection of such a proposal.

Asked whether he thought the Ukrainian president was ready to hand over control of its southern peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, Trump replied: “I think so.”

Trump called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “cease fire and sign a deal” to end the fighting, suggesting this could be achieved within two weeks.

He made the comments to reporters after returning from the Vatican, where he had a brief meeting with Zelensky before Pope Francis’ funeral.

Trump said the meeting “went well” and that Crimea was discussed “very briefly.”

Ukraine has repeatedly refused to make territorial concessions, insisting that land issues should only be discussed after a ceasefire is agreed.

Neither Zelensky nor Russian President Vladimir Putin have publicly responded to Trump’s latest comments.

Earlier Sunday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned Ukraine not to agree to a deal that would include large-scale territorial concessions in return for a ceasefire.

He told German public broadcaster ARD that Kiev “should not go as far as the US president’s latest proposal,” which he called “a surrender.”

The German minister said Ukraine knew it might have to give up some territory to achieve a ceasefire.

“But they certainly won’t go as far as the latest proposal from the American president – ​​or should not go as far.”

“Ukraine could have gotten what was in that proposal a year ago, it would be tantamount to surrender.” “I don’t see any added value,” Pistorius said.

“Most of the key points of the agreement have been agreed,” Trump said last week. Reports suggest Ukraine could be asked to give up large swathes of territory seized by Russia, including Crimea.

The BBC has not seen specific details of the latest American plan.

On Friday, Reuters reported that it had seen proposals from the United States that would include American legal recognition of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and de facto recognition of Russian control over other occupied territories, including Luhansk, in the east of the country.

Reuters said it had also seen counter-proposals from Europe and Ukraine, which reportedly would discuss what happens to occupied Ukrainian territory only after a ceasefire takes effect.

The US plan also rejects Ukraine’s membership in the NATO military alliance and provides security guarantees to a UK-France-led “coalition of the willing” after a ceasefire takes effect without US participation.

Meanwhile, the Europeans want the US to provide “strong” assurances that it will come to Ukraine’s aid if it is attacked.

The United States is reportedly proposing to take control of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which Russia has seized — and which would provide electricity to both Russia and Ukraine. The counter-plan makes no mention of giving power to Russia.

In an interview with Time magazine this week, Trump again blamed Kiev for starting the war, citing its ambitions to join NATO.

The US president also told Time: “Crimea will stay with Russia.”

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Russia and Ukraine to move forward with a peace agreement.

“It has to happen quickly,” Rubio told NBC. “We can’t continue to devote time and resources to this effort if it doesn’t work.”

The US has recently warned that it will walk away from the talks if progress is not made.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and currently about 20% of Ukrainian territory is under Moscow’s control.