The US is ready to recognize Russia's control of Ukraine's Crimea region under a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on April 18, citing many sources with expertise.
Bloomberg said the move was the latest signal that President Donald Trump wanted to strengthen a ceasefire in Ukraine. The information was revealed after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed on April 18 that the Trump administration was ready to abandon efforts to mediate peace without a breakthrough.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. The international community has opposed Russia's recognition of the Crimean peninsula.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said he will not cede territory to Moscow.
A Bloomberg source said that there is still no final decision on whether the US will recognize Crimea as Russia. When asked about the possibility of recognizing Crimea, a US official who was well aware of the negotiations declined to comment on the details of the negotiations.
In Paris, on April 17, Washington presented its allies with proposals to facilitate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, "including drafting terms to end the fighting and ease sanctions against Moscow in the event of a long-term ceasefire." The proposal also assumes that all territories won by Russia will still be under the control of the country. Discussions will be held in London next week.
In March this year, Semafor reported that the Trump administration was considering formally recognizing Crimea as part of Russia in a peace deal in Ukraine. US representatives are also discussing calling on the United Nations for a similar move.
In other developments, Ukrainian officials announced that they have signed a draft of a mineral deal with the US and a final deal could be reached by the end of next week.
The deal, expected to be signed by Ukraine and the US next week, includes the establishment of a joint reconstruction investment fund between the two countries. The draft recognizes "significant financial and material assistance" Washington has provided to Kiev since the conflict began, according to the Independent.
The document does not specify whether future investment profits will be used to retur the US to previous military aid.
