According to media reports, the US might recognize Crimea as Russian land as part of a possible peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The reports quoted people close to the talks.
Amid the ongoing diplomatic talks, this comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has been trying to reach a ceasefire between the two countries and wants to end the deadly war in Ukraine.
Crimea voted to leave Ukraine and join Russia in 2014. This happened soon after a US-backed change of government in Kyiv. However, the referendum was rejected by most of the nations, especially the Western ones.
Ukraine still refuses to accept Russia’s control over Crimea. Ukrainian leaders want their country’s 1991 borders restored.
The report said the White House has not yet made a final decision. US negotiator Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin last week. He said the main problem in the talks is the status of Crimea and four other regions.
The US has also suggested a plan to its European partners. The plan would stop fighting along the current front line and slowly ease sanctions on Russia.
Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are said to be increasingly impatient with the slow pace of the peace talks. Both leaders suggested on Friday that the US might walk away from the talks if nothing is achieved soon.
Russia wants Ukraine to give up its claim on Russian-held areas and pull back its troops. Moscow also wants NATO to stop expanding east and Ukraine to give up plans to join the alliance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not agree. He said Ukraine will never accept Russian control over its lands, including Crimea.
On Thursday, Zelenskyy criticized US envoy Steve Witkoff for being too soft on Russia. He said, “We will never see our land as Russian.” He also added, “There can be no talk about our land before a ceasefire.”
At the same time, secret talks are still going on. US officials shared a new plan with European partners in Paris. The plan would freeze the fighting and slowly ease sanctions on Russia if a lasting ceasefire happens.
The plan also suggests removing Ukraine’s NATO membership from the talks. Russia has long demanded this.
Leaders from the US, France, Germany, the UK, and Ukraine joined the Paris meeting. Macron and Witkoff also discussed how peacekeepers and ceasefire monitors might work if a deal is made.
However, Russia does not seem interested in a partial ceasefire. It ended a 30-day break and started attacking Ukraine’s energy system again. Russian missiles also hit Ukrainian cities. Last week, 35 people died in Sumy in a missile strike.
Ukraine says new talks can only happen if Russia first agrees to stop the attacks.
