To push forward a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, the U.S. government has reportedly suggested recognizing Russian control over Crimea — a move that has sparked strong reactions from Kyiv and concern among Western allies.

According to reports from Bloomberg, CNN, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, the United States shared a confidential document with its European partners outlining proposals for a potential ceasefire. One of the most controversial points allegedly includes acknowledging Crimea as part of Russia, a region annexed by Moscow in 2014 in violation of international law.

How is Ukraine reacting?

Unlike previous instances, the Ukrainian government initially refrained from making immediate comments. One of the first to speak out was Refat Chubarov, representative of the Crimean Tatars, who told Radio Liberty that the U.S. administration was merely testing Ukraine’s leadership with proposals for territorial concessions — concessions he said would not guarantee a lasting peace.

Shortly after, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, Sergii Leshchenko, stated on Ukrainian television that Kyiv had not discussed recognizing Crimea as Russian territory in its talks with the U.S. and firmly rejected the idea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also addressed the reports, emphasizing on April 22 that Ukraine would never recognize the Russian occupation of Crimea, as doing so would violate the Ukrainian Constitution. “Crimea is not negotiable,” Zelensky stated, reiterating that the peninsula remains Ukrainian territory.

Donald Trump, commenting on the situation via his platform Truth Social, criticized Zelensky’s stance, calling it very harmful for peace negotiations. “If you wanted Crimea, why didn’t you fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a single shot?” Trump wrote.

The risks of recognizing Crimea’s annexation

An analysis by the U.S.-based Robert Lansing Institute for Global Threats and Democracies Studies outlined several serious risks of recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea:

Undermining International Law: Acknowledging the annexation would represent a fundamental shift in U.S. foreign policy, undermining decades of principles that protect territorial integrity and weakening the legal order established after World War II. Experts warn it could embolden authoritarian states like China or Turkey to pursue similar territorial revisions.

Fracturing Western Alliances: Recognizing Crimea as Russian could alienate key allies, especially in Eastern Europe, who would view it as a betrayal. Ukraine would see it as an abandonment, and it could sow division within NATO and the European Union.

Domestic Political Fallout in the U.S.: Such a move could trigger bipartisan backlash within the United States, raising questions about Trump’s true motivations, particularly given long-standing suspicions about his ties to Moscow.

Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko echoed these concerns, calling Crimea a “red line” for Ukraine. He warned that legally recognizing the annexation would set an “extremely dangerous precedent,” not only for Ukraine but for the global community.

What’s next?

Following the failed London meeting — downgraded at the last minute to a mere consultative gathering after several key participants canceled — Washington’s next steps remain unclear. On April 23, U.S. Vice President JD Vance indicated that both Ukraine and Russia would have to make territorial concessions to achieve peace. Vance stressed that a “very clear proposal” had been made to both sides and warned: “It’s time for them to say yes—or for the United States to step away from this process.”