European concerns about a NATO crisis, after the US proposed the recognition of Crimea as Russian
The US Peace Plan that proposes to Kiev to recognize the annexation of Crimea risks deepening the differences of opinion between the United States and the European capitals, reports the Financial Times.
US proposed Crimea's recognition in a PHOTO PLOP PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK
European officials are worried that different visions could tense relations between the US and European capitals, undermine transatlantic security and even disturb the future NATO summit at the end of June.
“The worst scenario would be for the US to not be able to reach an agreement between Ukraine and Russia, and this should be imputed. This would be the time when Europe would have to choose.” Between Ukraine and the US, a high EU diplomat told FT.
The Financial Times notes that the Trump administration presented to Kiev a project with very favorable conditions to Moscow, including the US recognition of Russian sovereignty on Crimea.
However, Western officials have told FT that European capitals will not support a possible unilateral decision in this regard and will not press on Kiev to accept it.
According to countless officials from European countries they will maintain their long -term position: they will not accept any agreement that affect the sovereignty of Ukraine.
The Financial Times writes that Europeans consider the idea of recognizing the annexation of Crimea, as this would undermine the order based on rules that provided peace on the continent of generations.
“Future aspirations for Crimea and NATO accession are red lines for us. We cannot give up”said an EU official that was not named.
The European official has resulted that the Trump administration has already been told that the European capitals will not be able to recognize Crimea as a Russian. NATO's largest European powers should act to discourage Washington from unilateral actions, the official added.
The status of Crimea could lead to a serious diplomatic crisis in NATO, notes the quoted publication. Before the US proposal, NATO officials tried to minimize the internal divisions on Ukraine, insisting that the annual summit of the alliance leaders to take place in The Hague will focus on defense expenses, not on the war, according to the statements of the discussions.
Even so, the agreement proposed by Trump and the possibility for the US to abandon the discussions, blame Kiev and normalize relationships with Moscow could lead to a split between NATO leaders. “The fundamental problem of the summit is the point where we are in terms of Ukraine,” said a Western official.
On the other hand, similar divisions may also deepen within the EU, threatening to fracture the European unity, especially about what to do with EU's economic sanctions against Russia in the event that Washington decides to lift restrictions.
“Things don't look good at all”commented on an EU official.
President Trump's administration handed Ukraine a one -page document in Paris last week, which was presented as a “final” offer for peace.
Zelenski has recently reiterated that Ukraine will not recognize Crimea by Russia as it would be contrary to the Constitution of its country.
Trump criticized the statement, motivating that “Crimea was lost many years ago.” and that the assertion is fire and “It harms the discussions of peace.”
