Russia has indicated it is open to peace negotiations with Ukraine but insists that any meaningful talks must begin with international recognition of Moscow’s control over five Ukrainian regions, including Crimea.
Naturenex reports that since launching its military operation in February 2022, Russia has taken control of large portions of four Ukrainian territories, alongside Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Ukraine has consistently rejected these moves, denouncing them as illegal annexations and maintaining it would never acknowledge Russian sovereignty over the occupied territories.
European leaders have also voiced concerns that yielding to such demands could embolden future aggressions elsewhere.
In a statement to state media on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Moscow’s stance, saying, “The Russian side has repeatedly confirmed its readiness, as confirmed by the president, to begin negotiations with Ukraine without any preconditions.”
Yet when asked directly about possible demands for any negotiation process, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made it clear during an interview with Brazilian outlet ‘O Globo’ that, “International recognition of Russia’s ownership of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions is imperative.” His comments were later shared by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, former United States President Donald Trump was quoted saying he believed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might eventually be willing to relinquish Crimea as part of a ceasefire agreement. Washington has since described this period as a “critical” week for truce efforts.
Russia Announces May Ceasefire
In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a 72-hour ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. The temporary suspension of hostilities is set to run from May 8 to May 10.
A statement from the Kremlin read, “All hostilities will be suspended during this period. Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example.”
However, Moscow also warned that if Ukraine were to breach the ceasefire, Russian forces would respond with an “adequate and effective” measure.
Ukraine’s response to the ceasefire declaration was swift and dismissive, with its Foreign Secretary Andrii Sybiha posting on social media, “If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8th? If the fire can be ceased now and since any date for 30 days – so it is real, not just for a parade.”
President Putin, in his address, also expressed readiness to work alongside international partners to tackle what he called the “root causes” of the war — a term largely interpreted as Russia’s ongoing push to block Ukraine’s NATO membership bid, limit the country’s military strength, and maintain influence over Kyiv’s internal affairs.
If respected by both nations, the proposed May ceasefire would be the first comprehensive halt in fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago.
Still, the temporary nature of this agreement underscores how far both sides remain from a lasting peace settlement.
Earlier US-backed proposals for a month-long ceasefire were rejected by Moscow, which insisted on stricter terms. Ukraine, however, had shown willingness to accept a 30-day truce.
Both countries had previously attempted a limited Easter ceasefire, but that effort quickly unraveled, with each side blaming the other for violations. Since then, the conflict has persisted, causing severe damage and casualties across Ukrainian cities.
Given the troubled history of ceasefire agreements, Kyiv remains cautious about Moscow’s latest offer, citing Russia’s pattern of breaching past truces, including during Easter celebrations.
