Europe Rejects US Moves on Crimea Recognition

According to Politico, European nations will not support any agreements with the US regarding the recognition of Crimea as part of Russia. Many European officials are worried that such actions could threaten transatlantic security and jeopardize the upcoming NATO summit scheduled for late June.

Source: "European Truth" referencing Politico

The report states that the Trump administration attempted to propose a deal to Kyiv that would be favorable to Moscow, including the recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.

However, Western officials assured the publication that European capitals would resist any attempt by the US to recognize Crimea as Russian or to pressure Kyiv into accepting such a stance.

Officials from unnamed countries reiterated their long-standing position: they will not accept anything regarding the sovereignty of Ukraine.

For Europeans, the idea of recognizing the annexation of Crimea is unacceptable, as it would undermine the established rules that have ensured peace on the continent for generations. "Crimea and Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO are red lines for us. We cannot abandon them," said an unnamed high-ranking EU official.

The Trump administration has already been informed that European capitals could not recognize Crimea as Russian. The largest NATO countries in Europe need to "dissuade" Washington from unilateral actions, the official added.

The status of Crimea could trigger a serious diplomatic crisis within NATO, the publication notes. Prior to the US proposal, NATO representatives were attempting to downplay internal disagreements regarding Ukraine, insisting that the annual summit of Alliance leaders in The Hague would focus on defense spending rather than war-related issues.

However, the proposed deal by Trump and the possibility that the US might withdraw from negotiations, blame Kyiv, and normalize relations with Moscow could lead to fractures among NATO leaders. "The main issue of the summit is our stance towards Ukraine," stated a Western official.

Such disagreements are likely to deepen within the EU as well, particularly concerning what to do about the economic sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia if Washington decides to lift its restrictions.

"The situation looks very grim," said an EU official. He noted that any US move to recognize Crimea as part of Russia or to urge European capitals to ease sanctions against Moscow would "destroy EU unity."