President Zelensky's statement comes amid growing signs that the West is also pushing Kiev to accept the reality at the negotiating table.
According to Interfax-Ukraina news agency on April 26, during a press conference, President Zelensky said: "Just as US President Donald Trump mentioned... Ukraine does not have enough weapons to retake the Crimea peninsula by military means".
The Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014 following a Referral, which came shortly after Kiev's regime was changed by a Western-backed coup. Although Ukraine has repeatedly declared that it will take Crimea back, the actual situation on the battlefield has not changed for more than 10 years.
Mr Zelensky's statement comes as US President Donald Trump also affirmed in an interview with Time Magazine: "Crimea will stay with Russia" in any peace deal.
Trump added that the peninsula was granted to Russia under President Barack Obama, while stressing that the majority of Crimea residents speak Russian.
On the same day, on the Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump revealed that Ukraine and Russia are "very close" to a ceasefire agreement, and called on the two sides to " meet at the highest level to complete it".
Sources in the US media said that Washington is pushing for a peace plan, in which it recognizes Russia's control of Crimea and part of the territory in four Ukrainian regions that Russia has captured after 2022 Referendums. This option includes "frozening" the front lines at the current locations.
For his part, despite admitting military difficulties, Mr. Zelensky has maintained a tough stance that "only Ukrainians have the right to decide Ukraine's territory".
However, analysts say that his first public acknowledgement of military helplessness shows that Kiev may be preparing public opinion for practical grants in upcoming negotiations.
At the same time, the Washington Post quoted a source as saying that at a high-level meeting in London last week, many European leaders put pressure on Ukraine, recommending that Kiev accept the possibility of having to make a concession of part of the territory to reach peace.
The latest developments show that the Russia-Ukraine conflict, after more than 3 bloody years, is entering a key stage, with increasing pressure for negotiations from both inside and outside Ukraine.
