Recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea would mark a significant win for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long pushed for international legitimacy over the territory.
As U.S. officials continue to push for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, five Ukrainian territories have emerged as a central focus — and sticking point — in the negotiations. “This peace deal is about these so-called five territories,” U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said in comments to Fox News
Speaking after meeting European and Ukrainian officials for ceasefire talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump is interested in reaching a deal but has other priorities.
"Under the current circumstances, it is simply unrealistic to talk about a (full) ceasefire at this stage," Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said.
"(U.S.) President (Donald) Trump and the United States want this war to end, and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace," U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
"We have been defending the freedom of Ukraine together," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
Zaporizhzhia — During what would usually be evening rush hour in Zaporizhzhia, cars move easily through main streets that were once choked with traffic. As the shadows grow longer, soldiers calmly remove camouflage netting from the air defense weapons they’ll man against Russia’s deadly attacks until the sun rises
“I believe Mr. Witkoff has adopted the strategy of the Russian side,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “Consciously or not, he is spreading Russian narratives."
Russia has violated a partial ceasefire covering energy infrastructure more than 30 times since it was agreed in March, targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine, a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on April 16.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the meeting between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on April 11 "positive and useful."
Some U.S. officials have raised alarms over the direction of the Trump administration's diplomacy. The Wall Street Journal reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg are urging President Donald Trump to resist territorial concessions to Moscow.
"I think the president has been quite clear that he's been continually frustrated with both sides of this conflict," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "(Trump) wants to see this fighting end, he wants the war to end, and we believe we have leverage in negotiating a deal."
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who was reportedly present at the meeting between Putin and Witkoff, called the talks "productive."
A possible meeting between Trump and Putin could be on the agenda, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
"Take the Feb. 24 (when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine). Feb. 23 is the day of Russian Army. For the Kremlin, always, dates are very important," Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur told journalists in Brussels.
"It is a dynamic that will not be solved militarily. It is a meat grinder," U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said. "There is nothing else (that) can be discussed for the outcome until the shooting and the killing stops."
"This is a principled position of Ukraine — no one, and certainly not the aggressor country Russia, will dictate to Ukraine what kind of armed forces Ukraine should have," Presidential Office Deputy Head Pavlo Palisa said.
When U.S. President Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine last month, the man described as his "spiritual advisor," Pastor Mark Burns, backed the decision. This week, Burns is urging him to send Kyiv more tanks, fighter jets, and air defense. "I now believe that supporting Ukraine is America
Ukrainian, French, and British military officials have been discussing Ukraine’s requirements for a potential peacekeeping mission, with Ukraine aiming to secure peacekeepers to prevent future Russian aggression.
"I believe that certain time limits will provide opportunities to put pressure on Russia. If you have a ceasefire for an unclear period — it is a frozen conflict," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Following weeks of loud statements and attempts at diplomacy, the lack of clarity feels unsettling. Ukraine had agreed to a full ceasefire and got nothing in return. Russia had refused to comply. Over the past week, Russia further escalated its attacks on Ukrainian cities, killing dozens of civilians, among them
The negotiations will involve representatives of the two countries' foreign ministries, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
"These questions are hanging in the air, and so far, no one has given answers to them," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on April 6 that Russia was excluded from the U.S. tariff list due to ongoing peace negotiations with Ukraine.
"This is Russia's way of showing its true intentions – to continue terror as long as the world allows it," Zelensky said.
Key developments on April 4: * US to know whether Russia 'serious about peace' with Ukraine in coming weeks, Rubio says * US, Russia make 'significant progress' towards Ukraine ceasefire deal, Kremlin negotiator claims * Trump's team advises against calling Putin until Russia agrees to Ukraine ceasefire, NBC reports * More F-16 jets being
"It will be extremely difficult to digest any proposal," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said. "But when we look at the other option, which is more death and destruction, I think whatever the conditions that we have... will be more reasonable."
Finnish President Alexander Stubb suggested that either France or the United Kingdom, as key coalition leaders, should initiate contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The following is the April 1, 2025 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. Washington proudly announced on March 25 that it had brokered an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to "eliminate
The war between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated. Neither side is in a position to achieve its stated objectives through military force. But now there is significant diplomatic activity as well. Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, in large part to patch up relations with U.S. President Donald
The U.S. is drawing up plans to exert additional pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow as the goal of a full ceasefire by April or May seems increasingly unlikely, Reuters reported.
"As far as we can see, there is no place in (the U.S. proposals) today for our main demand, namely to solve the problems related to the root causes of this conflict," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed on April 1.
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