US Special Envoy Witkoff meets Putin as Trump says Crimea « will remain with Russia »

-Botted on the Radio « Free Europe »-

Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff were « productive » and approached the attitudes of Russia and the United States on Ukraine and other issues, said a Kremlin adviser, as US President Donald Trump said in an interview that Crimea will remain with Russia « .

There is still no statement from Witkoff or other US officials regarding the result of the April 25 talks in Moscow, which, according to Putin’s adviser, Yuri Ushakov, lasted over three hours.

The Moscow meeting comes at a time when the Trump administration is making a great effort to end Russia’s 38-month war in Ukraine, with a proposal for peace that would mark a major turning point in American politics: recognizing Moscow’s claim for Crimea, Ukraine territory.

Kremlin Foreign Policy Advisor Yuri Ushakov, who was a participant in the meeting, said the talks were constructive and useful.

« The conversation allowed Russia and the United States to bring more attitudes, not only for Ukraine, but also for a number of international issues, » he told journalists.

« As for the Ukraine crisis, the discussion focused on the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, » he added.

It has not been confirmed whether the Crimean case was discussed at the meeting, or any other Washington proposal, although it was widely expected to be the main point of discussion.

As Russia’s war against Ukraine has already entered its fourth year, this plan represents a great Washington effort to unlock diplomatic stalemate and to stop the largest land war in Europe since World War II.

This is also a profound change in American politics, especially in terms of Crimea status, which Moscow conquered and then annexed in 2014.

Apart from a very small number of states, the annexation has not been recognized internationally. Since then – including during Trump’s first administration – American politics has rejected Russian claim.

A European diplomat, with knowledge of the plan details, described it for Radio Free Europe. A former US diplomat also confirmed the contents of the proposal.

Regarding Crimea, the US plan requires « de jure » recognition – ie legal – of the Russian claim on the peninsula.

In addition to being a major turning point for the United States, it would be an extraordinary victory for Putin, whose popularity grew up significantly within Russia following his order for the secret occupation of Crimea in 2014 and then annexation.

The US recognition would be a severe blow to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and for most Ukrainians, for whom Russian claim is part of a wider campaign to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.

After the US proposal began circulating in Paris last week, Zelensky made it clear, both in public statements and in private meetings, that it would categorically reject the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. As a result, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suddenly withdrew from subsequent talks expected to be held in London on April 23.

« There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people, » Zelensky said on April 23.

That same day, in a post on social media, President Trump – who had a complicated relationship with Zelensky and much warmer with Putin – suggested that there was space for flexibility by the Ukrainian government if the US proposal moves forward.

He also said the Ukrainians had to have fought for Crimea when Russia occupied it in 2014.

« No one is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, but if she loves Crimea, why didn’t they fight for eleven years ago, when she surrendered to Russia without shooting any bullets? » Trump wrote.

Meanwhile, an interview with my magazine published on April 25, Trump estimated that « Crimea will remain in Russia. »

« Zelensky understands this, » the US president was quoted as saying, adding that « and everyone understands that he has been with them for a long time. »

Trump also referred to Russia’s naval presence in the Peninsula in the Black Sea. Sevastopol was once a home of the Soviet Black Sea fleet and was later used together by Russian and Ukrainian fleets.

After annexing Crimea from Russia, Moscow completely took sevetopoli’s control. In recent years, however, Ukrainian forces have attacked Russian ships there, forcing them to relocate to other parts of the Black Sea.

« They had their submarines there much earlier, many years ago. Most people in crime speak Russian, » Trump said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (in the middle, right), French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (left); British foreign secretary David Lammy (in the middle, left); and the political director of the German Foreign Ministry, Gunter Sautter (right) in Paris.

Other elements of the US plan include blocking Ukrainian aspirations for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) and a « de facto » recognition of Ukrainian territories currently under Russia’s control, including parts of Donjeck, Luhansk, Herson and Zaporiz.

The plan also envisages the return of the occupied parts of the archive region under the control of Ukraine; guaranteeing the unlimited access of Ukraine on the Dnieper River; and the return of the Zaporizhja nuclear power plant under Ukrainian administration, provided that it was then operated by the US, which would provide energy for both Ukraine and Russia-occupied areas.

The exclusion of NATO membership remains another sensitive point for Ukraine, where this objective is sanctioned in the Constitution.

According to the European diplomat, an element of the US plan that has not been widely made public is the US withdrawal from the demand for Zelensky to hold new presidential elections as soon as possible.

Zelensky was elected in 2019 with a vast majority. But Kremlin has stated that his mandate is illegal, as the state of war, declared after the Russian occupation in February 2022, has prevented the holding of new elections.

In a public clash earlier this year, Trump seemed to accept Russian claims, calling Zelensky « dictator » and demanding new elections.

Since then, Trump has softened his rhetoric about the election. However, the Ukrainian government has begun quiet preparations for the possibility of holding voting later this year.

« Putin is offering almost everything he wanted to get, while Ukraine is offering almost nothing; there is no compromise, » Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Khara told my Current.

« The fact that Russia is unable to conquer all Ukraine or change the government there is perfectly clear, and that will not change soon, » he added.

« Russian advance in the East is happening at a high cost, and this does not mean any real perspective on military victory over Ukraine. But in Trump’s mind there is a completely different reality. »