New York [US], April 19: The United States is reportedly ready to recognize Russia's control over Crimea as part of a broader peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
Bloomberg on April 18 quoted a source close to the country as saying that this possible concession signals US President Donald Trump's desire to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine .
If implemented, the move would mark a significant shift in the U.S. position, which has previously insisted on not recognizing Russia's control of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
According to Bloomberg, the possibility of recognizing Crimea as part of conditional concessions, which are integrated into a broader agreement between Russia and Ukraine to find a way out of the conflict, which has entered its third year. The specific terms of the agreement are still being negotiated and no final decision has been made.
Recognition of control of Russian Crimea would mark an important victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long promoted international legitimacy over the territory. For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that the country will not cede any part of the territory to Russia.
According to Bloomberg, citing European officials, the United States presented details of a peace plan to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine during a meeting in France on April 17. The proposal reportedly includes easing sanctions on Russia, ending Ukraine's prospects for joining NATO, and recognizing Ukraine's former territories under Russian control.
U.S., Russian and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the new information .
In recent months, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has stepped up its mediation role in efforts to push for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on April 18 that if there is no clear breakthrough within the next few days, Washington may abandon its mediating role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict to focus on other policy priorities.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
