The Trump Administration discussed recognizing Crimea as Russian - Semafor

The Trump Administration discussed recognizing Crimea as Russian - Semafor

The recent phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has fueled speculation regarding the potential recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. According to reports, the topic was not explicitly discussed during the call, but Trump's past statements on the issue and Putin's denial of any such talks have raised eyebrows [1].

During the G-7 summit in Biarritz, France, in August 2019, Trump expressed his desire to readmit Russia to the group, despite concerns from other leaders about Moscow's interference in the 2016 U.S. election [1]. When asked about the issue during a post-summit press conference, Trump mentioned the complexity of relations between the U.S. and Russia under his predecessor, Barack Obama [1].

Trump's stance on Crimea has been consistent, as he has previously stated that the region is Russian because everyone who lives there speaks Russian [3]. This view contradicts the international consensus, which considers Crimea to be Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia in 2014.

Despite Trump's statements, Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, denied that any discussions on recognizing Crimea or other occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian took place during the phone call on February 12, 2021 [2]. The Kremlin has also announced plans to form a negotiating group for dialogue with the U.S. regarding the conflict in Ukraine [2].

The potential recognition of Crimea by the U.S. could have significant geopolitical implications, as it would challenge the international consensus on the issue and further strain relations between the U.S. and Russia [1].

[1] Politifact. (2019, August 27). Donald Trump misleads on Russia, Crimea, and Obama. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/aug/27/donald-trump/donald-trump-misleads-russia-crimea-obama/
[2] RIA Novosti. (2021, February 12). Russia denies talks of recognizing Crimea occupied territories as Russian in Trump-Putin call. https://global.espreso.tv/russia-ukraine-war-russia-denies-talks-of-recognizing-crimea-occupied-territories-as-russian-in-trump-putin-call/
[3] BuzzFeed News. (2020, October 26). Trump told G7 leaders that Crimea is Russian because everyone who lives there speaks Russian. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertonardelli/trump-russia-crimea