EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas Warns US Against Recognizing Crimea as Russian Territory

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has cautioned the United States against recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea as part of a potential peace deal with Moscow.

Speaking in an interview with AFP on April 22, Kallas said it would be a mistake for Washington to consider acknowledging the occupied Ukrainian peninsula as Russian territory in any agreement.

“Then Russia clearly gets what it wants,” the EU’s chief diplomat said.

Kallas reaffirmed the European Union’s position, stating it will never recognize Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, as part of the Russian Federation.

“Crimea is Ukraine. For those who are under occupation, it is very important that others do not recognize it as Russian,” she added.

Earlier reports indicated that the United States has shared proposals for a peace settlement of Russia’s full-scale invasion with both Ukraine and European allies.

Earlier, during a meeting in Paris on April 17, US officials reportedly presented Ukrainian representatives with a classified document proposing terms for a potential peace agreement.

The proposal excludes the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO and raises the prospect of the US formally recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea. These elements have sparked significant debate among Western allies and Ukrainian officials.

The document has since been shared with European partners and briefed to Moscow, with Washington now awaiting Ukraine’s official response during the upcoming talks in London.