US proposes recognizing Crimea as Russian - WP report

The United States is proposing to recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and freeze the war's front lines as part of a peace agreement, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing several people familiar with deliberations.

The U.S. proposals were presented to Ukraine in Paris last week, according to the Post.

The report cited multiple unnamed officials familiar with the negotiations and noted that the proposal has sparked concern among Ukraine's European allies.

Talks on the issue are set to continue in London on Wednesday, with top officials from Ukraine, the US, and European powers participating.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's adviser confirmed that, while Kyiv agrees with certain parts of the US proposal, others remain contentious. Western officials have expressed alarm at the scale of the expected concessions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the US may walk away from the peace process if no progress is made soon.

European diplomats are expected to push for stronger security guarantees and postwar reconstruction commitments for Ukraine, should any deal proceed, the report added.

The proposed recognition of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, would mark a dramatic shift in US policy. Ukrainian officials continue to view Crimea's return as nonnegotiable.