The United States is reportedly open to recognizing Russian control over Crimea as part of a proposed peace agreement aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the draft framework.
The proposal, which includes an immediate ceasefire, was shared with Ukrainian and European officials during talks held in Paris on Thursday. A follow-up call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also took place to discuss the plan, according to the report.
However, the framework is still under development, with several key aspects yet to be finalized. Discussions involving US, European, and Ukrainian officials are expected to continue next week in London to refine the agreement.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 following a military intervention — a move widely condemned by the international community as a violation of international law. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently rejected any deal that would legitimize Russia’s claim over the region.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump signaled that the US might withdraw from the peace process if negotiations become too difficult. “If, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say, ‘You’re foolish, you’re horrible people,’ and we’re just going to take a pass,” Trump told CNN. Nonetheless, he expressed cautious optimism, saying, “I think we have a really good chance of getting it done.”
Secretary Rubio echoed the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that a decision on the viability of the peace efforts needs to be made within days. “We need to determine very quickly now… whether or not this is doable,” he said following high-level discussions in Paris.
The proposed deal remains in a sensitive phase as global stakeholders weigh its political and territorial implications.
