Crimea has become a central issue in negotiations to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, NBC News reported on May 3, 2025. According to the publication, Washington, which is acting as a mediator, is considering recognizing Crimea as Russian as part of a peace agreement, which is causing serious concerns in Kyiv.

"Crimea is a test of integrity, fortitude and dignity not only for Ukraine, but for the entire civilized world," — the NBC article says.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky categorically rejects the idea of ​​recognizing Crimea as Russian, stating that this contradicts the Constitution of Ukraine.

"We have no right to give up our land," " he said on April 24 in South Africa, commenting on leaks about possible concessions, The Guardian reported.

Kyiv fears that the US recognition of Crimea as Russian would create a dangerous precedent.

According to The Washington Post, the United States proposed at a meeting in London on April 23 that Ukraine and its European allies consider legally recognizing Crimea as Russian and freezing the front line in exchange for a ceasefire. Reuters clarifies that the plan, developed by U.S. Special Representative Steven Witkoff, provides for de jure recognition of Crimea and de facto Russian control over the territories of Donbas, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. U.S. President Donald Trump publicly supported this position, saying in an interview with Time:

"Crimea will remain with Russia, that was 12 years ago."

Crimea’s strategic importance is underscored by its geographic location. The peninsula juts into the Black Sea, allowing it to control trade routes and project military power into the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and North Africa. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based in Sevastopol, and Crimean airfields and logistics centers serve as staging areas for operations.