Russia has reiterated its unwavering demands in Ukraine peace talks, insisting on retaining Crimea and four annexed regions while pushing for Ukraine’s neutrality, as U.S. President Donald Trump hints that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be open to territorial concessions.
Russia’s Non-Negotiable Demands
On April 28, 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s original conditions for peace, first outlined at the start of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022. Russia demands international recognition of its 2014 annexation of Crimea and its 2022 annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions as Russian territory. Lavrov emphasized that these commitments must be legally binding and include enforcement mechanisms TASS. He also insisted on Ukraine’s permanent neutrality, barring it from NATO membership, and the restoration of Russian language, culture, and Orthodox Church rights in Ukraine, citing the persecution of the Moscow-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church The Guardian.
Lavrov further called for Ukraine’s “demilitarization” and “de-Nazification,” the lifting of Western sanctions, the return of frozen Russian assets, and the withdrawal of lawsuits and arrest warrants against Russian officials. These demands align with President Vladimir Putin’s initial war objectives, despite recent signals of openness to a ceasefire Newsweek.
Sergey Lavrov Addresses Ukraine Peace Talks. Image: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Trump’s Role and Zelenskyy’s Dilemma
Following a brief meeting with Zelenskyy at the Vatican on April 26, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Zelenskyy might be willing to cede Crimea to Russia to secure peace. “Oh, I think so,” Trump said when asked"He's calmer now and wants to make a deal," he told reporters in New Jersey The Guardian. However, Zelenskyy has consistently rejected territorial concessions, warning that recognizing Russian control over Crimea and other regions would face fierce opposition from Ukrainian nationalists and military factions like the Azov Battalion Newsweek.
A Ukrainian Army brigade commander openly threatens Zelensky on a Ukrainain TV show.
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) April 28, 2025
He warns him not to negotiate with Russia, not to concede territory, or he will "Regret it"
Open threats to the commander in chief from his own troops, Ukraine is a lawless basket case. pic.twitter.com/McN1GjlkIM
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned against escalating sanctions on Russia, arguing that such measures could prolong the war for years. “The minute you start doing that, you’re walking away from it, you’ve now doomed yourself to another two years of war,” Rubio said, emphasizing the U.S.’s unique position as a mediator Newsweek. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been actively engaging with Putin, with recent talks in Moscow signaling Russia’s openness to a ceasefire, though Kyiv accuses Moscow of violating previous truces The Independent.
More headlines via Newsquawk... Geopolitics: Ukraine- US President Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelensky at the Vatican for 15 minutes which Zelensky’s staff said was constructive, covered a lot of ground and they agreed to meet again, while the White House said the meeting was very productive.
- US President Trump said the meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky went well and we'll see what happens in the next days, while Trump is very disappointed with Russia and wants Russian President Putin to stop shooting and reach a deal. Furthermore, Trump said the confines of a deal are there and that Zelensky is calmer now and wants to make a deal, while it was separately reported that President Trump said he thinks Ukrainian President Zelensky is ready to give up Crimea, according to Al Arabiya.
- US President Trump said there was no reason for Russian President Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns over the last few days which makes him think that Putin doesn’t want to stop the war and is just ‘tapping’ him along, while Trump added too many people are dying and this has to be dealt with differently through banking or secondary sanctions.
- US Secretary of State Rubio said Russia and Ukraine are generally closer to a peace deal than in the last three years and a peace deal needs to happen soon, while he added that the US has options to hold responsible those that don’t want a Ukraine peace deal, according to NBC.
- Russian President Putin confirmed Russia’s readiness to negotiate with Ukraine without preconditions during a meeting with US envoy Witkoff, according to IFAX.
- Russian President Putin said Kyiv’s adventure in the Kursk region completely failed and Chief of General Staff Gerasimov said Ukrainian saboteurs in Russia’s Belgorod region have been liquidated. Furthermore, Russia’s military commander told Russian President Putin that scattered remnants of Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region will be destroyed soon, according to RIA.
- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said Russia will continue to target sites used by Ukraine’s military, foreign fighters and military instructors sent by Europe, while he added that Russia would be willing to store Iran’s enriched nuclear material if both the US and Iran believe that was useful.
- Ukrainian military said Moscow’s assertion it has ended Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region is not true and operations inside Kursk continue, while its forces are still on active operations in the Belgorod region.
- French President Macron said he had a very positive exchange with Ukrainian President Zelensky and that Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire, while the coalition of the willing will continue working on a ceasefire and lasting peace in Ukraine.
- German Defence Minister Pistorius said US demands for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia are going too far.
Challenges and International Reactions
Despite diplomatic efforts, progress remains elusive. Zelenskyy insists on an “immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire” as a prerequisite for talks, citing ongoing Russian attacks on civilian areas The Washington Post. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for Putin to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, accusing Russia of “lying” about wanting peace Newsweek. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius criticized U.S. proposals for Ukraine to cede territory, calling them excessive Reuters.
Complicating matters, North Korea’s confirmed troop deployment to support Russia has drawn condemnation from South Korea and the U.S. State Department, labeling it a “criminal act” that could escalate tensions Reuters. Meanwhile, Ukraine denies Russian claims of losing control in Kursk, a region it seized in August 2024 as a potential bargaining chip BBC News.
An Interesting Fact About Russia
Russia is home to Lake Baikal, the deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world. Located in Siberia, it holds about 20% of the planet’s unfrozen freshwater and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for unique species like the Baikal seal.
A Taste of Russia: Borscht Recipe
Borscht, a hearty beet soup, is a beloved Russian dish perfect for cold days. Here’s a recipe for traditional Russian borscht:
- Ingredients: 2 beets, 1 lb beef (optional), 1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 potatoes, 2 cups cabbage, 3 tbsp tomato paste, 6 cups broth, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp oil, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp vinegar, salt, pepper, sour cream, dill.
- Instructions: Brown beef (if using), then simmer in broth. Sauté onion, carrots, and tomato paste. Add beets, sugar, and vinegar. Combine with broth, add potatoes and cabbage, and simmer until tender. Stir in garlic and serve with sour cream and dill.