Crimea, annexed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014, remains a key flashpoint in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
President Donald Trump is weighing formally handing Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea as part of a future peace settlement in the war in Ukraine, according to a report.
Newsweek has contacted Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and the White House for comment by email.Why It Matters
Crimea, annexed by Putin in 2014, remains a key flashpoint in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The Black Sea peninsula was seized by Putin in a widely condemned move considered illegal by the international community, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to reverse this annexation. Zelensky has insisted that the peninsula must be returned to Ukrainian control as a critical condition for any lasting peace agreement.What To Know
As part of a potential peace agreement, the White House is considering officially recognizing Crimea as Russian territory and encouraging the United Nations to do the same, according to a report by news outlet Semafor, citing two individuals familiar with the discussions.
Crimea is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
In a statement to the outlet, National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes denied the White House has made any commitments.
The development comes as Trump and Putin are set to speak by phone on Tuesday, and as Washington is pushing for a 30-day ceasefire in the war.
Trump told reporters Sunday evening that they would talk «to see if we can bring that war to an end.
