In a dramatic shift that could reshape European security dynamics, former President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to formally recognise Russian control over Crimea and other occupied Ukrainian territories as part of a peace initiative to end the ongoing conflict.
The Diplomatic Push
According to exclusive reports from The Telegraph, Trump has dispatched his peace envoy Steve Witkoff alongside his son-in-law Jared Kushner to present the proposal directly to Vladimir Putin in Moscow. This move represents the most significant change in US policy towards the conflict since Russia's initial annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The diplomatic initiative follows urgent discussions between Ukrainian and American officials in Geneva last weekend, after which the Kremlin confirmed receiving an amended US proposal. The original draft presented to Russian officials contained 28 points offering what sources describe as 'de facto' recognition of Russia's control over Crimea and both occupied Donbas regions.
Territorial Concessions and European Opposition
Vladimir Putin has explicitly stated that recognition of the Kremlin's territorial claims would be a fundamental requirement in any negotiations stemming from Trump's peace initiative. The Russian leader emphasised that Washington's acceptance of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions would form core components of any agreement.
However, this approach risks creating a major rift with European governments that have consistently rejected any peace plans involving territorial concessions. One official briefed on the Witkoff-Kushner approach revealed: 'It's increasingly clear the Americans don't care about the European position. They say the Europeans can do whatever they want.'
Following a meeting of the coalition supporting Ukraine this week, members reaffirmed their commitment to the principle that borders must not be changed by force, describing this as fundamental for preserving stability and peace in Europe and beyond.
Ukrainian Resistance and Constitutional Barriers
Ukraine maintains its firm position against legally surrendering any part of its territory. Under the Ukrainian constitution, no president can cede land without a nationwide referendum, creating a significant legal obstacle to any agreement involving territorial concessions.
Andriy Yermak, President Zelensky's chief of staff who helped negotiate the updated proposal, reinforced this stance in an interview with The Atlantic: 'Not a single sane person today would sign a document to give up territory. As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory.'
The revised American proposal has been condensed from 28 to 19 points, described by Kyiv as less favourable to Moscow than the initial draft. Crucially, the most sensitive sections concerning territorial outcomes reportedly remain blank in the latest version, reserved for resolution only in a potential face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Trump.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, Yermak and Ukraine's national security adviser Rustem Umerov are expected to travel to Florida for further discussions at Trump's Mar-a-Lago base in the coming days, setting the stage for what could become the most significant peace negotiations since the conflict escalated in 2022.
