Russia has reiterated its position that any negotiations with Ukraine must include recognition of its claims over five Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Moscow’s demands came on Monday as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia’s readiness to begin talks with Ukraine but insisted on the recognition of these territories as a “precondition.”
Since launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has taken control of large portions of four Ukrainian regions and officially claimed them as part of Russian territory. Along with Crimea, which was annexed nearly a decade ago, the newly claimed regions include Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine has rejected these claims, decrying the annexations as an illegal land grab.
Ukrainian officials have made it clear that they will never accept Russia’s control over these areas, with European leaders warning that any recognition of Russia’s annexations would set a dangerous precedent, potentially encouraging further aggression from Moscow.
In a statement on Monday, April 28, 2025, Peskov reaffirmed that Russia had expressed its willingness to negotiate with Ukraine, as confirmed by President Vladimir Putin.
However, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov added a critical caveat during an interview with Brazil’s O Globo, stating that international recognition of Russia’s ownership of the annexed territories is “imperative” for any meaningful dialogue.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump weighed in on the ongoing negotiations, suggesting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might be willing to concede Crimea in exchange for a ceasefire.
Washington described the upcoming week as “critical” for the peace process, as the conflict continues to escalate with no clear end in sight.
