The Trump administration is floating a peace deal that would formally acknowledge Russian control over Crimea and chunks of eastern and southern Ukraine, according to reporting from The Telegraph. If that sounds like a significant policy shift, that's because it is—the U.S. has refused to recognize territorial conquest by force for decades, and this would flip that position entirely.
The Moscow Mission
President Donald Trump has sent peace envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner directly to Moscow to present the proposal to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The framework has evolved considerably: the original version contained 28 points drafted after Witkoff's discussions with Russian officials, including U.S. "de facto" recognition of Crimea and occupied areas of the Donbas. It also proposed acknowledging Russian control behind front lines in parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia after any cease-fire.
Following urgent consultations between American and Ukrainian officials in Geneva last weekend, negotiators trimmed the proposal to 19 points. The Kremlin confirmed Friday that it received this revised framework. While the new version is less favorable to Moscow, multiple sources indicate that recognition of seized territory remains part of the discussion.
Putin himself weighed in Thursday, saying that Washington's legal recognition of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk would be central to negotiations over Trump's peace initiative.
European Alarm and Ukrainian Resistance
European partners are not thrilled with Washington's approach, to put it mildly. One source familiar with the talks told The Telegraph: "It's increasingly clear the Americans don't care about the European position. They say the Europeans can do whatever they want."
European governments have repeatedly rejected any settlement that validates land grabs by force. After a Wednesday meeting of coalition partners supporting Kyiv, the group reaffirmed that borders "must not be changed by force," calling the principle essential to global stability. A European alternative peace proposal notably excluded recognition of Russian territorial control.
Ukraine isn't budging either. Before resigning Friday after an anti-corruption raid, Andriy Yermak—previously President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff and lead negotiator—made Ukraine's position clear: "As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. The constitution prohibits this."
The most contentious elements of the U.S. plan, including the ultimate fate of occupied regions, would reportedly be left to direct talks between Trump and Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader hasn't confirmed when he'll meet with the president.
What's at Stake
Russia just released a new national security strategy outlining plans to fully integrate occupied Ukrainian areas within ten years—despite never having fully captured Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, or Zaporizhzhia.
Concerns are mounting in Europe that Kyiv could be pressured into an unfavorable agreement. Recently leaked phone calls revealed Witkoff advising Russian officials on how to appeal to Trump's team, including emphasizing Ukrainian concessions on Donetsk. That's raised questions about whose interests are being served in these negotiations.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt urged caution about drawing conclusions from current reporting: "Any reporting about these sensitive diplomatic conversations should be deemed speculative until it comes directly from the president or his national security team."
Translation: nothing's final until it's final. But the direction of travel is becoming clear, and it's making a lot of people nervous.