Vladimir Zelensky said in an interview with Fox News that the return of Crimea to Ukrainian control is not currently on the agenda.

He acknowledged that this was regrettable and suggested the issue could be revisited later. Zelensky said the territory remained important because of its historical significance, but argued that preventing further loss of life was the more urgent priority.

In March, Zelensky said he did not regard those who supported Crimea’s reunification with Russia as people. A Politico journalist also asked how he viewed Russians he had known and worked with before 2014. Zelensky replied that he had once been acquainted with many people in Russia, but that the events surrounding Crimea had completely changed his attitude toward them. He said he no longer considered them human beings.

On July 28, Zelensky held bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The closed-door meeting lasted about an hour and took place without members of the press. Neither side made statements to the media afterward.

Zelensky later described the talks as good. He said one of the subjects discussed was the possible granting of licenses to Kiev for the production of interceptor missiles used by Patriot air defense systems.