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Why Zelensky Won’t Bargain Away Crimea — No Matter the Pressure
Why Zelensky Won’t Bargain Away Crimea — No Matter the Pressure The fate of Crimea has surged back into the heart of global diplomacy, becoming a defining obstacle in former President Donald Trump’s emerging peace plan for Ukraine. As speculation grows that Trump’s strategy could involve officially recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has drawn an unambiguous red line: he will not, and cannot, concede the peninsula. Although the full details of Trump’s proposal remain under wraps, reports suggest that his plan includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, giving Moscow de jure — or legal — control over the region. “It was lost years ago,” Trump has reportedly said, brushing off the peninsula as “not even a part of discussion” in ongoing peace efforts. For Zelensky, however, Crimea is not a bargaining chip. It is an inseparable part of Ukraine — politically, constitutionally, and emotionally. The suggestion that the U.S. might legitimize Russia’s landgrab is more than just an affront to Ukrainian sovereignty; it’s a direct challenge to the very idea of international law. “There’s nothing to talk about here,” Zelensky declared. “This is against our constitution.” That constitution is crystal clear. Article 2 proclaims that Ukrainian sovereignty “extends throughout its entire territory” and that this territory is “indivisible and inviolable.” Any attempt to alter Ukraine’s borders must be approved by a national referendum, itself requiring the consent of Ukraine’s parliament. For Zelensky, who has repeatedly vowed to uphold the law of his nation, relinquishing Crimea would not only be unconstitutional — it would be unthinkable. He has also reminded the world that this stance isn’t new. In 2018, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued the “Crimea Declaration,” firmly rejecting Russia’s claim. Zelensky now points to that moment as evidence that the U.S. once stood solidly behind Ukraine on Crimea — and should continue to do so. For Kyiv, any reversal by Washington would represent a dangerous precedent: that force can be rewarded with legitimacy. Although it’s true, as Trump asserts, that Ukraine has little chance of regaining Crimea in the immediate future, acknowledging Russia’s claim legally would be a drastic and symbolic shift. The reality on the ground — the de facto control by Moscow — does not mean the world should accept it as lawful. In the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, negotiators in Istanbul floated the idea of “parking” the Crimea issue, leaving it unresolved for 10 to 15 years while focusing on more immediate matters. While that idea failed to gain traction, it reflected an international consensus that Crimea remains a thorny, long-term issue, not something to be solved hastily. In Washington, the Biden administration had chosen a path of strategic ambiguity. Officials had repeatedly dodged direct questions on whether the U.S. would support Ukraine’s efforts to militarily retake Crimea. The goal, according to analysts, may habe been to keep the pressure on Russia without completely slamming the door on future negotiations. “They may believed that there is value in holding Crimea at risk in order to put pressure on the Russians to come to the negotiating table,” said Chris Chivvis, a former U.S. national intelligence officer and current director of the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment. “It’s possible that that’s driving their policy… Even if they don’t actually believe that it’s likely that Crimea will be returned to Ukraine militarily.” Still, that strategy was never enough for lawmakers pushing for a clearer stance. But for Zelensky, the matter is not one of geopolitical calculation — it’s about principle, law, and the identity of a nation that refuses to forget what was taken. As he sees it, Crimea is not lost — and never will be. Adpated by ASEAN Now from BBC | Hill 2025-04-25 -
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Report Thailand to Test Nationwide Emergency Alerts on 50 Million Devices
If there will be a message when having bad air, then it will sound almost every day. -
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Accident Horrific Motorway 7 Crash Claims Eight Lives
The incident is still under investigation and the scene is not even cleared yet, so are you really expecting full details 4 hours after the crash occurred? -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 25 April 2025
Repeat Offender Karaoke Bar in Chiang Rai Raided Again Picture courtesy of Kaoded. A karaoke bar in Mae Chan District, Chiang Rai Province, has once again been shut down following a raid by provincial authorities and police, after it was found operating illegally and employing young girls, below legally permitted age, as hostesses. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358748-repeat-offender-karaoke-bar-in-chiang-rai-raided-again/ -
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Crime Repeat Offender Karaoke Bar in Chiang Rai Raided Again
Picture courtesy of Kaoded. A karaoke bar in Mae Chan District, Chiang Rai Province, has once again been shut down following a raid by provincial authorities and police, after it was found operating illegally and employing young girls, below legally permitted age, as hostesses. Authorities from the Chiang Rai Provincial Administration acted after receiving public complaints that the “Saeng Chan Café” karaoke venue was staying open past legally permitted hours and employing girls under the legal age limit. A covert operation was launched to confirm the claims, and surveillance revealed ongoing violations, despite a previous police raid on 4 May 2024, when the same venue was charged for operating without a proper licence and breaching operating hours. At approximately 00:45 on 24 April, officers executed a planned operation at the premises, located at 219 Moo 9, Pa Sang Subdistrict, Mae Chan District. The single-storey establishment was found hosting live music, with 11 customer tables and five VIP karaoke rooms in use. Upon inspection, 11 female service staff were found, including two girls under the age of 18, the youngest just 15 years old. A cashier and a manager were also present, with the latter identified as Ms. Chomphisa aged 49. While Ms. Chomphisa provided certain business-related documents, she was unable to produce a valid operating licence when requested. Further checks revealed seven patrons under the legal age of 20, none of whom had been asked to present identification upon entry. Authorities have levelled multiple preliminary charges, including: • Operating an unlicensed entertainment venue • Selling alcohol beyond legally allowed hours • Encouraging inappropriate behaviour in minors • Employing underage workers Officials have stated that a multidisciplinary team will now be assembled to assess whether any of the underage workers were victims of human trafficking. Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-04-24.
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