According to those familiar with the issue, the US has recognized Russia’s control of Crimea’s Ukrainian region as part of a broader peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev, Bloomberg reported.
The potential concessions are the latest signal that President Donald Trump is eager to solidify a ceasefire deal, when he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Friday that he is ready to move on from peace-broking efforts unless the administration is swift.
Crimea was taken away by the Kremlin in 2014 after an invasion and subsequent referendum, and the international community resisted recognition of the peninsula as Russians in order to avoid justifying illegal annexation.
Doing so risks undermining international law and treaties that prohibit land acquisition through the use of force. Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelensky has repeatedly said he would not hand over the territory to Moscow.
However, the move will benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long sought international recognition of Russian sovereignty in Crimea. Putin has so far refused to agree to Trump’s proposal for a wide range of peace deals.