**US Peace Proposal on Ukraine Sparks Global Concerns**
A proposed US peace plan for Ukraine has sparked widespread concerns among experts, with many warning that formally recognizing Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea would be a clear violation of international law.
The proposal, which also includes the de facto recognition of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory and a ban on NATO membership for Ukraine, has been met with strong criticism from security experts. “This isn’t negotiation, this is surrender,” said Aaron Gasch Burnett, a security expert and senior fellow at Democratic Strategy Initiative.
According to Burnett, the proposal amounts to the US rewarding Russia for its invasion and Ukraine’s capitulation. “The Russians get everything they want,” he said. “The U.S. is essentially trying to negotiate Ukraine’s surrender, and the U.S. is surrendering its own international leadership by doing it.”
**Recognizing Crimea: A Clear Breach of International Law**
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, a move that was widely condemned by the international community. Recognizing this annexation would be unprecedented and could set a dangerous precedent for other nations.
“The Constitution of Ukraine says that issues of altering the territory of Ukraine are to be resolved exclusively by nationwide referendum,” said Halyna Yanchenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People Party. “Recognizing Crimea as Russian not only contradicts Ukraine’s official position — it would never be accepted by the Ukrainian people.”
**Ukraine’s Stance: No Constitutional Mechanism for Recognition**
The Ukrainian government has no constitutional mechanism to accept a breach of territorial integrity, making recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea highly unlikely.
“No Ukrainian government has a mandate to recognize Crimea as Russian,” said Yanchenko. “There is simply no chance such a deal would pass a vote in Ukraine’s Parliament.”
**US Weakness: A Global Signal**
The proposal has also been criticized for signaling US weakness and a willingness to abandon its interests in Europe.
“It looks unfair, it looks ridiculous,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, a top MP from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party. “As a result of this, Trump looks weak, definitely not strong, not great.”
**Ukrainians Reject Territorial Concessions**
Polls have consistently shown that Ukrainians reject territorial concessions in exchange for peace.
In March 2022, 80% of respondents in a poll by the independent group Rating said Ukraine should do everything possible to bring Crimea back under Ukraine’s control. A nationwide poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in 2024 found that no more than 32% of Ukrainians agreed to consider giving away some territories to Russia.
**The Biggest Losers: Ukraine and the US**
Experts warn that recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea would have devastating consequences for both Ukraine and the US.
“The biggest losers are Ukraine and the U.S.,” said Burnett. “It signals to the world that America is keen to wash its hands off this whole thing.”
As the global community watches, the fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance. The proposed US peace plan has sparked concerns among experts, with many warning that recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea would be a clear breach of international law.
