Trump administration may offer Crimea recognition in peace proposal
3 Min Read
The Trump proposal, if enacted, would acknowledge these realities and propose freezing the battlefield status quo in exchange for de-escalation by Russia.
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A Russian military landing ship sails near Kerch, Crimea, on July 17, 2023. (AP)
The Trump administration is reportedly drafting a proposal that would recognize Crimea as part of the Russian Federation and freeze the current front lines of the Ukraine conflict, according to a report by The Washington Post on Tuesday. The move is being positioned as a potential step toward ending hostilities and launching a broader peace process.
Citing sources familiar with internal negotiations, the paper noted that the proposal is expected to be raised at upcoming meetings in London involving US, Ukrainian, and European officials.
The idea builds on prior talks held in Paris. According to the report, during last week's talks in Paris, the US delegation proposed formally recognizing Crimea as Russian territory and, as part of a future agreement, lifting sanctions on Russia, provided that Moscow agrees to cease hostilities in Ukraine.
Should this plan be formally put forward, it would represent a marked departure from over a decade of US foreign policy, which since 2014 has refused to acknowledge Crimea's incorporation into Russia and instead upheld Kiev's claims to the peninsula.
However, from Moscow's standpoint, the status of Crimea has long been settled. Russian officials frequently point to the results of the 2014 referendum, where more than 95% of Crimean voters reportedly supported joining the Russian Federation, as evidence of the region's desire to reunify with Russia. The Kremlin maintains that the move was consistent with the principle of national self-determination and a correction of historical boundaries imposed during the Soviet era.
Supporters of this view argue that Crimea's integration into Russia restored order and stability after the Western-backed change of power in Kiev, and helped protect ethnic Russian populations from escalating political and military pressures. Russian media have also noted that the West's refusal to recognize the referendum result undermines the democratic will of the people of Crimea.
Read more: Operation Lunar Hail: Ukraine targeted Crimean Bridge with US ATACMS
The Trump proposal, if enacted, would acknowledge these realities and propose freezing the battlefield status quo in exchange for de-escalation by Russia. In return, sanctions imposed since 2014 could be gradually lifted, though implementation would be conditional on verifiable steps by Moscow to end military operations.
While the proposal is likely to be met with resistance from Ukrainian leaders and some European governments, its supporters argue that it may offer a practical path toward halting the war and stabilizing the region.
Whether this diplomatic initiative gains formal traction in the London talks remains to be seen, but its emergence signals a potential recalibration in Washington's approach to resolving the conflict.
