The Washington Post reported on April 22, 2025, that the United States is set to propose a controversial peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine conflict during talks in London on April 23, 2025. According to the article, the U.S. proposal includes formally recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and freezing the current front lines of the war as part of a broader peace agreement. The plan was presented to Ukraine in Paris the previous week and involves Washington acknowledging Crimea as Russian territory and eventually lifting sanctions against Russia in exchange for Moscow halting hostilities. The proposal has sparked concerns, particularly in Kyiv, where Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have firmly rejected ceding any territory, calling it a “red line.” European and Ukrainian officials privately acknowledge that regaining Russian-controlled territories soon is unlikely, but they aim to slow any agreement that allows Russia to retain occupied lands without significant concessions for Ukraine. The plan, described by some as originating from U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, suggests the U.S. could recognize Crimea as Russian without forcing Ukraine to do the same. European leaders, leveraging frozen Russian assets, are also pushing for stronger sanctions and post-war recovery funding. This proposal follows months of U.S.-led peace talks, with prior discussions in Saudi Arabia and Paris, amid growing frustration over Russian intransigence and battlefield momentum. The plan also excludes Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations, aligning with Russian demands, and proposes a ceasefire along current lines without addressing Russia’s claims to four eastern Ukrainian regions annexed in 2022.[](
The initiative has drawn comparisons to historical appeasement, with some X posts likening it to the 1938 Sudetenland crisis, reflecting skepticism and criticism among observers. However, the U.S. State Department has downplayed the proposal’s specifics, stating that only a list of potential options was shared in Paris. As talks loom, the proposal’s viability remains uncertain, with Ukraine insisting on territorial integrity and Russia showing limited willingness to compromise.