Trump's proposals for Kyiv to end war include recognition of occupied Crimea and neutral zone around Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant – WSJ

 

The Wall Street Journal reports that the United States is awaiting a formal response from Kyiv, particularly regarding the potential recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and Ukraine’s continued refusal to join NATO. The US is also exploring the creation of a neutral zone around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) as part of broader efforts to bring the war to a close.

Ukraine is under mounting pressure to respond this week to a set of far-reaching proposals from the Trump administration, which include significant concessions to Russia. These include a possible shift in US policy toward recognizing Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and accepting that Ukraine will not join NATO.

Details: According to Western officials cited by the WSJ, the proposals were outlined in a confidential document presented by senior Trump administration officials to their Ukrainian counterparts in Paris on Thursday, April 17. These ideas were also shared during a separate daytime meeting with senior European officials.

WSJ quote:
“The US is now waiting for Kyiv’s response, which is expected during a meeting of American, Ukrainian, and European officials in London later this week. If consensus emerges among these parties, the proposals could then be presented to Moscow.”

To intensify pressure on both sides, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Friday, April 18, that the US could suspend its diplomatic efforts unless progress is made on key issues within the coming weeks.

WSJ quote:
“The US diplomatic push is intended to pave the way for a cease-fire, likely along current front lines, and eventually a comprehensive settlement.”

Accepting some of these proposals would be politically and diplomatically difficult for Kyiv. Ukraine continues to reject Russia’s claim to any of its territory, making US recognition of the annexation of Crimea a particularly controversial suggestion.

Further details: On Sunday, April 20, a senior US State Department official clarified that the proposals were intended as discussion points—not as ultimatums. The official described the document as a "list of potential options" offered for consideration and feedback, not a "take-it-or-leave-it" proposal.

The WSJ noted that recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea would reverse over a decade of bipartisan US policy. In 2018, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served in Trump’s first administration, strongly condemned the annexation, calling it a violation of the international principle that borders cannot be changed by force.

US Congress has also passed legislation formally opposing the recognition of Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

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Another proposal under discussion involves designating the area around the ZNPP as neutral territory, potentially under US oversight. During a March conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump reportedly raised the idea of the US purchasing Ukrainian power infrastructure, including nuclear plants, calling this the "best way to protect the facilities."

WSJ suggested the ZNPP is expected to provide electricity both to Ukrainian-held areas and regions still under Russian occupation following the 2022 invasion.

Background:

• On April 11, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, held a 4.5-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss a possible path to resolving the war, according to Russian state media.
• On April 17, Ukrainian officials met in Paris with representatives from France, Germany, and the UK to discuss a possible ceasefire, the deployment of a multinational security force, and guarantees for Ukraine.
• A US delegation led by Secretary Rubio and Special Envoy Witkoff also joined those talks.
• On April 18, Rubio emphasized the need to assess within days whether peace in Ukraine is realistically achievable, warning that the US has other global priorities and may withdraw from the negotiations if progress stalls.