The U.S. is prepared to recognize Russia’s control over Crimea and other occupied Ukrainian territories in order to reach an agreement to end the almost 4-year war. The Telegraph revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump has sent his peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow to make a direct offer to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Thursday, the Russian president stated that Washington’s legal recognition of Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as Russian territory would be one of the key issues in negotiations on the U.S. president’s peace plan.
One key element of the 28-point peace plan stipulates that, following the establishment of a ceasefire, the U.S. would acknowledge Russia’s de facto control over Crimea and the two eastern regions of Donbas
However, the parties would not force Kyiv to recognize Russia’s authority over the territories annexed since 2014. The Ukrainian constitution prohibits any president or government from ceding territory without first putting the question to the electorate in a national referendum.
In a recent interview, Ukraine’s Presidential Office Chief of staff Andriy Yermak told The Atlantic that “not a single sane person today would sign a document to give up territory.”
“As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory. The constitution prohibits this. Nobody can do that unless they want to go against the Ukrainian constitution and the Ukrainian people.”
Washington’s apparent offer of recognition has raised concerns among its European allies, who have repeatedly ruled out supporting a peace agreement that condones the violent redrawing of borders.
On Wednesday, after a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, its leaders said:
“They were clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force. This remains one of the fundamental principles for preserving stability and peace in Europe and beyond.”
The European counter-proposal to the original 28-point plan, however, made no recommendation to recognize Russian control over Ukrainian territories.
Territorial issues will be discussed and resolved after a full and unconditional ceasefire.
In a new national security strategy document published by the Kremlin, Putin promises to integrate Ukraine’s occupied territories into the Russian system within a decade.
