The Settlement in Ukraine: Zelensky’s Intransigence May Cost Him the Entire Country
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed that Moscow is taking settlement proposals for Ukraine seriously but prefers not to disclose negotiation details before their conclusion, pointing out that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is the one speaking publicly about them.
In an interview with CBS News, Lavrov explained that Russia is making serious proposals and responding to serious ones as well, highlighting Zelensky’s public demands in the media and even before U.S. President Donald Trump. He stressed that discussing negotiations publicly undermines their seriousness.
A Constructive and Useful Meeting
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting yesterday, Friday, with U.S. special envoy Steve Whitcoff at the Kremlin. The meeting lasted three hours and was described as constructive and useful, addressing the resumption of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pointed out that such meetings serve as an opportunity to convey Russia’s position to the American side.
U.S. President Donald Trump also indicated that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are progressing well, with agreement on most key points, but emphasized the need for a high-level meeting to finalize the agreement, noting that Russia has made significant concessions.
Zelensky is Hindering the Settlement in Ukraine
On the other hand, Trump warned that Zelensky’s recent statements regarding Crimea might harm peaceful negotiations with Russia. He expressed his view that the situation in Ukraine is tragic and stressed that Zelensky must reach peace and a settlement in Ukraine, otherwise, he risks losing the entire country within three years.
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his country’s firm stance that Crimea is an integral part of Ukrainian territory, despite U.S. pressure and divergent international positions. Speaking from Kyiv, he emphasized that “Crimea will remain Ukrainian and that the Ukrainian people alone have the right to determine the fate of their land,” adding that the Ukrainian constitution clearly states that all temporarily occupied territories, including Crimea, legally belong to Ukraine.
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