Camilla Jessen
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has drawn a firm red line: Crimea remains Ukrainian—no matter what Washington decides.
The European Union will not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea under any circumstances, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told the Financial Times in an interview published April 30.
“Crimea is Ukraine,” Kallas said. “We’ve said this over and over again. But we can’t speak for America and what decisions it might take.”
Her remarks follow reports that the Trump administration is urging Kyiv to accept a ceasefire proposal that includes formal recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, as well as de facto acceptance of other occupied regions.
The U.S. plan, according to Axios, would also offer Russia phased sanctions relief in exchange for cooperation.
EU Prepares Contingency Plans
Kallas said the EU is preparing a “Plan B” in case the United States chooses to withdraw from the Ukraine peace process and re-engage with Moscow on bilateral terms.
The EU’s current sanctions package, originally imposed after the 2014 annexation of Crimea, is due for renewal in July.
However, Hungary—a vocal outlier on EU Ukraine policy—could block the extension.
Kallas acknowledged that “some European governments are privately considering aligning with Washington should the U.S. pull back.”
“But it’s a false hope,” she warned. “Russia is spending over 9 percent of its GDP on the military—they will want to use it again.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a resolution to the war in Ukraine since returning to office, but a breakthrough has remained elusive.
Kyiv and Moscow have both rejected key parts of the proposed U.S. peace framework. Ukraine accepted a U.S.-mediated 30-day ceasefire in March, but Russia refused, demanding instead an end to all Western military support for Ukraine.
Despite U.S. calls for de-escalation, Russian forces have continued offensive operations along the front lines. A limited ceasefire agreement to protect Ukrainian energy infrastructure—reached during a March 18 call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin—has been repeatedly violated.
On April 27, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the coming week would be pivotal for the future of negotiations.