Russia-Ukraine War: Putin Reveals What Must Happen For Peace

Ukraine has consistently denounced these annexations as unlawful and has declared it will never acknowledge them.

Meanwhile, European officials have warned that yielding to Moscow’s demands could set a dangerous precedent and potentially fuel further aggression.

“The Russian side has consistently expressed its willingness, as confirmed by the president, to initiate talks with Ukraine without any preconditions,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in a statement to state media on Monday.

However, when questioned about possible preconditions for talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that “international recognition of Russia’s ownership of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions is non-negotiable.”

Lavrov made these remarks in an interview with Brazilian newspaper O Globo, which was later published by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In related developments, U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that he believed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might be open to conceding Crimea as part of a ceasefire agreement, as negotiations toward a truce entered a “critical” phase.

Putin Declares 72-Hour Ceasefire in May

In another move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a full three-day ceasefire in the ongoing war with Ukraine, set for May, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II.