Trump's Crimea proposal risks EU‑US rift and unity crisis
The U.S. administration, under President Donald Trump, 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, according to the "Financial Times."
Donald Trump's administration proposed a peace agreement to Ukraine that contains conditions favorable to Russia, including U.S. recognition of Russian sovereignty over the annexed Crimea in 2014, as reported by the "Financial Times."
According to the newspaper, this represents the largest concession to Moscow within the White House's efforts to achieve peace thus far.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has 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 "Financial Times" 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 from 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 on this matter.
According to the newspaper, European diplomats fear that differences in their 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 canceled 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.
