**US Proposes Peace Deal That Would Cede Occupied Territories to Russia, Bloomberg Reports**
The United States has proposed a peace deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine that would leave the occupied territories under Russian control. According to Bloomberg, which cited unnamed European officials on April 18, the proposal was discussed during ceasefire talks in Paris.
Under the US plan, Russia’s war efforts would be effectively frozen, and Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO would be put on hold. The proposal also does not address whether the occupied territories would be recognized as Russian by the international community.
The US Special Envoy for Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, suggested that a potential peace deal could focus on the status of five territories, including Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and four other regions partially occupied by Russian forces. Witkoff has previously stated that giving Moscow control over these areas would be the fastest way to achieve a ceasefire.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Ukraine will not recognize the occupied regions as Russian under any peace deal. Zelensky also accused Witkoff of spreading Russian propaganda and overstepping his authority by discussing Ukrainian territory in back-channel peace talks with Moscow.
The proposed US plan is part of ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, which has been at war since 2022. The conflict has resulted in significant human suffering and economic losses for both countries.
**Reactions from International Community**
International leaders have expressed varying views on the proposed peace deal. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Italy will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to defend its sovereignty, while US Vice President JD Vance stated that the US is optimistic about ending Russia’s war and has “some interesting things to report.”
Ukrainian officials, however, remain skeptical of the proposal, with Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka stating that Ukraine needs to discuss the plan further before making a decision.
The international community continues to provide support to both sides in the conflict. The European Union has announced plans to reduce its military presence in Eastern Europe, while China has denied providing lethal weapons to any party in the war.
**Casualties and Conflict Escalation**
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant human suffering, with 1,530 Russian casualties reported over the past day alone. The Ukrainian government has also announced that it will continue to defend its sovereignty against Russian aggression.
In a separate development, Russia’s Supreme Court removed its designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organization, which some analysts see as an attempt by Moscow to improve relations with the group ahead of a potential withdrawal from Afghanistan.
As tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high, international leaders are calling for increased diplomatic efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
