Russia Expresses Readiness for Peace Agreement in Ukraine Conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that the country is prepared to engage in discussions aimed at concluding a peace agreement to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In a recent interview with CBS, Lavrov noted that while Russia is ready to finalize an accord, there are still specific elements that need to be refined. He emphasized that there are several indications suggesting progress in the right direction.

In a related development, former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach an agreement through a post on his platform, Truth Social. Trump expressed his discontent over the recent airstrike on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, which resulted in the deaths of at least twelve individuals. He called for an immediate cessation of the attacks, describing them as unnecessary and poorly timed, and highlighted the alarming loss of life, estimating that 5,000 soldiers are killed weekly in the conflict.

When questioned about whether he believed Putin would heed his call to halt the attacks, Trump responded affirmatively. He also mentioned that he has his own timeline for achieving a resolution, indicating a desire for a swift conclusion to the conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that further discussions are scheduled for the weekend, with expectations that both Russia and Ukraine will take necessary steps toward reaching an agreement.

Regarding territorial claims, Trump acknowledged the significant challenge Ukraine faces in reclaiming Crimea, which was annexed by Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any notion of ceding Crimea, asserting that Ukraine will not renounce its territorial claims, describing the regions of Crimea, as well as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia--areas annexed in 2022--as integral parts of Ukraine.

According to a report, the United States is expected to demand that Russia recognize Ukraine's right to maintain its own military and defense industry as part of any peace agreement. This topic is likely to be addressed by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff during his upcoming meeting with President Putin.