Ukraine, clash over US proposal for peace with recognition of Crimea

The Kiev delegation rejects the plan put forward by the Trump administration to legitimise the Russian annexation of Crimea. Rubio and Witkoff abandon the mission, while Paris and Berlin desert the meeting

The international peace talks in Ukraine, scheduled to take place in London today, have been postponed after the Ukrainian delegation refused to discuss the US proposal to formally recognise the annexation of Crimea by Russia. The plan, devised by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, was described by Kiev as ‘unbalanced’ and ‘vague in its benefits for Ukraine’, according to the Axios website.

The document, presented as a final offer by Washington, also includes a freeze on the current front lines, a commitment by Kiev to renounce joining NATO, the easing of sanctions against Moscow, and future economic cooperation between the US and Russia.

US Vice-President JD Vance confirmed the ultimate tone of the proposal: ‘We have involved both sides, now they have to decide. If they do not agree, the US will withdraw from the process’. Vance added that it is time to ‘stop and freeze territorial lines’, with both sides implicitly giving up portions of territory.

The cancellation of the meeting also led to the forfeit of Germany and France, whose foreign ministers did not show up. Paris sent diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne, while London welcomed Ukrainian ministers Andrii Sybiha and Rustem Umerov, who met the British David Lammy and John Healey. Sybiha reiterated on X Kiev’s intention to ‘work for a just and lasting peace’.

From the Kremlin comes an opposite reading of events: according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the meeting was skipped because of divisions between Ukraine’s allies. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov anticipated a new round of negotiations with the US ‘soon’.

The Guardian reports that Moscow would be ready to give up claims to territories it does not control in exchange for recognition of the annexation of Crimea. But Zelensky categorically denied having received such a proposal from Washington and reaffirmed that Ukraine cannot accept it.

The situation remains uncertain, also in light of the recent violations of the Easter ceasefire by Russia, denounced by Kiev. The possibility of an agreement seems increasingly dependent on the resilience of Western alliances and Moscow’s real will to end the conflict, now entering its third year.

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