Washington DC [US]: The United States is prepared to recognize Russian control over Crimea as part of a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, according to a CNN report citing an official familiar with the proposed framework.
The peace proposal includes an immediate ceasefire between the warring nations. The framework was discussed with Ukrainian and European officials during a meeting in Paris on Thursday. Additionally, a phone call took place between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the proposal, as per the report.
However, the deal is not finalized, with certain details yet to be worked out. The US plans to collaborate with Europe and Ukraine in London next week to finalize the remaining aspects of the peace agreement.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 after a military invasion, a move that was widely condemned by the international community as illegal. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has steadfastly refused to cede the territory to Russia.
Trump Signals Potential Withdrawal from Peace Talks
Meanwhile, Donald Trump indicated that the US may “take a pass” on its efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine if either side makes negotiations 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 foolish. You’re horrible people,’ and we’re just going to take a pass,” Trump said.
Despite the warning, Trump expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of a successful deal. “I think we have a really good chance of getting it done. It’s coming to a head right now,” he added.
Rubio Urges Rapid Decision on Peace Efforts
Trump’s comments followed a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who suggested that peace efforts in Ukraine could be abandoned within “days” if it becomes clear that a resolution is not possible. Speaking in Paris, Rubio emphasized the urgency of determining whether the conflict can be brought to an end.
“We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable,” Rubio said, speaking before departing for further high-level talks.