US plans to include recognition of Crimea as Ukrainian territory in proposed peace deal, according to WaPo
Kiev and its European allies are set to meet with Washington officials in London this week, according to a report from the Washington Post. During the upcoming discussions, the US plans to propose a peace agreement that would recognize Russian...
TroibNews 
Kiev and its European allies are set to meet with Washington officials in London this week, according to a report from the Washington Post.
During the upcoming discussions, the US plans to propose a peace agreement that would recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea and establish a freeze on the front lines in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The meeting, anticipated to take place on Wednesday, will involve US President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to broker a deal. Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, is scheduled to engage with foreign ministers and security advisers from France, Germany, the UK, and Ukraine. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff will not be attending the discussions.
Sources informed the outlet that US proposals presented to Ukraine in Paris last week include formal US recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and the potential for lifting sanctions against Moscow as part of a future agreement. A Western official likened the pressure on Ukraine to be “astounding.”
European representatives are expected to advocate for security guarantees for Ukraine and initiatives for postwar reconstruction, which might be partially financed through Russian assets that have been frozen.
Trump has expressed his willingness to withdraw from negotiations if sufficient progress is not made soon, stating to reporters on Monday that he would reveal further details of the US proposals “over the next three days.”
In other developments, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has engaged in multiple discussions with high-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, is scheduled to visit Russia later this week, as confirmed by Moscow. One of the sources noted that it was “Witkoff’s idea” for the US to acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory “without forcing Ukraine to recognize it.”
In 2014, Crimea conducted a referendum to join Russia following a Western-backed coup in Kiev. The new Ukrainian government, supported by its Western allies, has rejected the legitimacy of that vote.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has firmly dismissed any notion of abandoning territorial claims against Russia and has called on the US and other countries to continue military assistance, a stance that the Trump administration has indicated it may cease.
Moscow maintains that the issue of Crimea, Sevastopol, and the four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia in 2022 is non-negotiable. Russian officials have underscored that recognizing the “reality on the ground” is crucial for achieving sustained peace.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
During the upcoming discussions, the US plans to propose a peace agreement that would recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea and establish a freeze on the front lines in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The meeting, anticipated to take place on Wednesday, will involve US President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to broker a deal. Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, is scheduled to engage with foreign ministers and security advisers from France, Germany, the UK, and Ukraine. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff will not be attending the discussions.
Sources informed the outlet that US proposals presented to Ukraine in Paris last week include formal US recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and the potential for lifting sanctions against Moscow as part of a future agreement. A Western official likened the pressure on Ukraine to be “astounding.”
European representatives are expected to advocate for security guarantees for Ukraine and initiatives for postwar reconstruction, which might be partially financed through Russian assets that have been frozen.
Trump has expressed his willingness to withdraw from negotiations if sufficient progress is not made soon, stating to reporters on Monday that he would reveal further details of the US proposals “over the next three days.”
In other developments, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has engaged in multiple discussions with high-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, is scheduled to visit Russia later this week, as confirmed by Moscow. One of the sources noted that it was “Witkoff’s idea” for the US to acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory “without forcing Ukraine to recognize it.”
In 2014, Crimea conducted a referendum to join Russia following a Western-backed coup in Kiev. The new Ukrainian government, supported by its Western allies, has rejected the legitimacy of that vote.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has firmly dismissed any notion of abandoning territorial claims against Russia and has called on the US and other countries to continue military assistance, a stance that the Trump administration has indicated it may cease.
Moscow maintains that the issue of Crimea, Sevastopol, and the four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia in 2022 is non-negotiable. Russian officials have underscored that recognizing the “reality on the ground” is crucial for achieving sustained peace.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
