Russia has reiterated its willingness to engage in direct talks with Ukraine, but stressed that international recognition of its control over five Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, is "imperative" for any potential settlement of the conflict.
In an interview with Brazilian daily O Globo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated, “We remain open to negotiations, but the ball is not in our court. Kyiv has not shown readiness for negotiations so far.” Lavrov's comments came amid calls from U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged Russia to agree to a ceasefire and suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might eventually be willing to concede Crimea as part of a peace deal — a proposal Zelenskyy has rejected in the past.
Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's stance that Ukraine must renounce its aspirations of NATO membership and adopt a neutral, non-aligned status as part of the final resolution to the conflict, which he argued should address Russia’s security concerns.
Since the war began in February 2022, Russia has claimed control over large parts of four Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia — in addition to Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014. These territorial annexations have been condemned by Kyiv, with Zelenskyy vowing to reclaim all territories occupied by Russian forces. The U.S., the EU, Türkiye, and numerous other countries have denounced Russia's annexation of Crimea as illegal, with no international recognition of the territory’s new status.
The ongoing war and Russia’s territorial claims continue to be key stumbling blocks in any meaningful peace negotiations, with international diplomacy still working to find a path toward resolution.
Finland is ramping up security along its eastern border, warning of a potential Russian troop buildup once the war in Ukraine ends. The development comes as Helsinki continues to bolster its border security with a new fence aimed at deterring hybrid threats.
Russia has voiced serious concern over the U.S. Golden Dome defense initiative, a $175 billion project aimed at countering threats from China and Russia.
The Kremlin, asked on Thursday about a planned prisoner of war swap with Ukraine of 1,000 captives each, said that work was underway, and that each side wants to complete the exchange as quickly as possible.
Polish authorities are investigating whether explosive devices were planted near a critical undersea power cable linking Poland and Sweden, following suspicious activity by a Russian “shadow fleet” vessel in the area, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday.
Iran’s parliament on Wednesday ratified a 20-year strategic cooperation agreement with Russia, a move that signals deeper military and economic alignment between the two countries.
The Trump administration is moving toward lifting sanctions on Syria, but officials caution that coordinating between government agencies means the process will take longer than initially expected.
The 7th Ethnosport Culture Festival kicked off in Istanbul with Azerbaijan’s 100-member team and famed Karabakh horses drawing major attention.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi declared that the United States would bear legal responsibility if Israel launches an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid reports of potential Israeli military action and ongoing nuclear negotiations in Rome.
A rare naval misstep has shaken North Korea’s tightly choreographed military image, prompting an urgent internal probe and public scolding from Kim Jong Un.
Baku hosted the 6th plenary meeting of the UN’s GlobE Network, gathering anti-corruption officials from 92 countries to strengthen global cooperation and chart the network’s next steps.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
AnewZ and Kazakhstan’s Jibek Joly/Silk Way TV channel co-hosted a special AnewZ Talks in Astana at Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU), uniting global experts and young leaders at Silk Road Media Group’s journalism school to explore the growing intersection of media and diplomacy.
The Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025, scheduled for May 18–19, will host 200 international guests, including 40 current and former European officials.
Meta has signed another major solar energy agreement, acquiring 650 megawatts (MW) of clean power capacity across Kansas and Texas to support the rapid expansion of its AI-driven data centers, the company confirmed Thursday.
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Thursday that tariffs were a key point of discussion during the G7 finance ministers’ meeting, despite the issue being omitted from the final communique.
Northern France sees major farmer protests as key agricultural reforms face parliamentary review, sparking road blockades and rising tensions.
The Trump administration is moving toward lifting sanctions on Syria, but officials caution that coordinating between government agencies means the process will take longer than initially expected.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi declared that the United States would bear legal responsibility if Israel launches an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid reports of potential Israeli military action and ongoing nuclear negotiations in Rome.
The Trump administration is moving toward lifting sanctions on Syria, but officials caution that coordinating between government agencies means the process will take longer than initially expected.
The 7th Ethnosport Culture Festival kicked off in Istanbul with Azerbaijan’s 100-member team and famed Karabakh horses drawing major attention.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi declared that the United States would bear legal responsibility if Israel launches an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid reports of potential Israeli military action and ongoing nuclear negotiations in Rome.
A rare naval misstep has shaken North Korea’s tightly choreographed military image, prompting an urgent internal probe and public scolding from Kim Jong Un.
Baku hosted the 6th plenary meeting of the UN’s GlobE Network, gathering anti-corruption officials from 92 countries to strengthen global cooperation and chart the network’s next steps.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment