- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 19 Apr 2025 10:41 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a major development, the United States is reportedly willing to recognise Russian control over Crimea as part of a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, CNN reported, citing an official familiar with the ongoing negotiations. The draft peace plan that contains stipulations for a prompt ceasefire was put before Ukrainian and European leaders in a top-level meeting held in Paris on Thursday.
US, Russia Discuss Peace Plan
In line with sources cited by CNN, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to talk about the proposed framework. The action indicates a fresh push by Washington to broker a resolution to the conflict, which started when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Russia had annexed Crimea before in 2014 after a military intervention, an action strongly condemned as illegal by the global community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has continually declined to surrender the territory, claiming Ukraine's sovereignty over the area.
Donald Trump Signals US May Step Back From Peace Efforts
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has hinted that the United States may withdraw from its mediatory role if either side becomes uncooperative during negotiations. “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, as quoted by CNN. Although making his robust statements, the US President sounded reserved optimism regarding the peace process, further stating, "I think we have a good chance of getting it done. It's coming to a head right now."
Last Details of the Deal Under Negotiation
Although the overall outline has been made public, some of the major specifics of the deal are still not decided. The US will keep negotiating with European and Ukrainian officials in London next week to finalize the offer. Reiterating the sense of urgency in the situation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the time frame for action is decreasing. “We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable,” Rubio told reporters in Paris before departing for Washington. The Biden administration has been under increasing pressure to find a diplomatic solution to the prolonged war, which has led to widespread destruction, loss of life, and global economic disruptions.