U.S. proposal on Crimea peace deal stirs European unease
The U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump, has proposed a peace agreement to Ukraine that includes recognizing the Russian annexation of Crimea. This proposal has raised concerns among European countries that strongly reject such a possibility, writes the "Financial Times."
Donald Trump’s administration offered Ukraine a peace agreement draft with conditions favourable to Russia, including U.S. recognition of Russian sovereignty over the annexed Crimea in 2014, according to the "Financial Times."
This, the newspaper says, is the biggest concession to Moscow in the White House's peace efforts so far.
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, firmly stated that Kyiv will not recognize Russian sovereignty over any Ukrainian territory. Nevertheless, Ukraine might agree to de facto Russian control over Crimea in exchange for Western security guarantees.
European interlocutors of the "FT" emphasize that they will not support any U.S. actions aimed at recognizing Crimea's annexation, nor will they pressure Kyiv to agree to it.
One European diplomat said that Crimea and future aspirations regarding NATO membership are red lines for us, adding that Europe cannot let this go.
Concerns about worsening relations with the USA
The U.S. decision to recognize Crimea as part of Russia could "kill the unity of the EU," warns a source of the "Financial Times." European officials stress that recognizing the annexation of Crimea is unacceptable to them and appeal to the U.S. to refrain from unilateral decisions in this matter.
According to the newspaper, European diplomats fear that differences in the approach to this issue between Kyiv and Washington may harm relations between the U.S. and Europe and affect transatlantic security.
Hopes for European participation in peace talks under U.S. leadership were dashed when Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled his participation in a meeting with European and Ukrainian delegations in London. Instead, the U.S. special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to head to Russia.
