Bryan Lanza, who is described as a long-time Republican Party strategist, speaks out in an interview with BBC which was sent on Saturday.
The incoming Trump administration is going to ask Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a “realistic vision for peace,” according to Lanza.
– And if President Zelenskyj comes to the table and says – well, we can only have peace if we have Crimea – he shows us that he is not serious. Crimea is gone, says the adviser.
– And if you prioritize getting Crimea back and want American soldiers to fight to get Crimea back, then you have to fend for yourself, Lanza continues.
He says Trump’s administration will prioritize “peace and stopping the killing”.
Lanza has been a political adviser to Trump ever since the election campaign in 2016, but after the election victory this year he no longer works for the president-elect.
Russia annexed Ukraine‘s Crimean peninsula in 2014 after a popular uprising forced Ukraine’s pro-Russian president to flee. Over 2.5 years after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Russians occupy almost 20 percent of Ukrainian territory.
Zelenskyi has repeatedly said that there can be no peace between the two neighboring countries until all Russian forces are expelled and all territory is returned to Ukrainian control.
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**Interview with Bryan Lanza: Peace and Ukraine’s Future**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Bryan. You mentioned that the incoming Trump administration will seek a “realistic vision for peace” from President Zelenskyy. What does that look like to you?
**Bryan Lanza:** Peace is paramount. If President Zelenskyy insists that peace is only achievable through the return of Crimea, it complicates the situation. Crimea is lost to reality, and expecting American soldiers to fight specifically for its recovery is unrealistic. We must focus on stopping the killing and establishing a pragmatic approach moving forward.
**Interviewer:** You suggest that prioritizing the return of Crimea is not a serious stance for peace. What do you think that means for Ukraine’s negotiating power on the international stage?
**Bryan Lanza:** It puts Ukraine in a position where they must assess their real options. The world needs to see a willingness to compromise if peace is to be achieved. A call for unconditional surrender of territory may alienate potential allies who seek stability.
**Interviewer:** Given the historical context of Crimea’s annexation and Zelenskyy’s insistence on regaining all territory, can you see a scenario where a compromise is reached?
**Bryan Lanza:** That’s the challenge. There are deeply rooted emotions on both sides, and a compromise may be viewed as a betrayal domestically for Zelenskyy. But without some level of mutual understanding, the conflict may drag on indefinitely.
**Interviewer:** It’s clear there are differing perspectives on this issue. Do you think Ukrainian citizens would agree with your stance that focusing solely on territory could be detrimental to achieving peace?
**Bryan Lanza:** That’s a crucial question. While many Ukrainians want their land back, they must weigh the cost of continued conflict against the benefits of a peace that could prioritize lives over territory. It’s an essential debate for them to engage in, and I encourage readers to consider both sides.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Bryan. Your insights certainly raise important questions about the path to peace in Ukraine. Readers, what do you think? Should Zelenskyy prioritize getting all territory back, including Crimea, or is it time for a more pragmatic approach to achieve peace?
