WASHINGTON, April 22. /TASS/. The US is set to propose Europe recognize Crimea as Russian when officials meet in London on Wednesday for talks on a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, The Washington Post reported, citing sources.
According to the report, the proposal will be part of a possible peace deal. Washington will also suggest that the current front line be frozen.
The newspaper said the US presented its proposals to Ukraine in Paris last week. They include having Washington formally recognize Crimea as Russian territory and eventually lifting sanctions against Russia under a future accord. In exchange, Moscow would end hostilities in Ukraine at a time when Russia’s military enjoys battlefield momentum and sizable advantages.
The Ukrainian delegation interpreted the pitch as Washington’s "final offer before it considers giving up on the peace process," according to the Washington Post. French, British and German negotiators are expected to insist that any deal include "security guarantees and postwar reconstruction programs, possibly paid for in part with frozen Russian assets," the newspaper said. European and Ukrainian officials acknowledged privately that Kiev is unlikely to regain control of the Russian-controlled territories any time soon, according to the report.
According to Bloomberg, Washington presented its allies with preliminary proposals on a Ukrainian settlement at a meeting of a delegation from Kiev with representatives of Western countries in Paris on April 17. Among them are giving up discussions of Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and the easing of sanctions against Russia. The proposals also stipulate that Russia will maintain control over all the territories it liberated.