The US insists on a peace plan for the war in Ukraine that would solidify the territorial division near the current front lines, effectively accepting Russia's conquests since the invasion began. A proposal challenging for Kyiv and the European Union, who have also expressed their refusal to recognize Crimea, annexed by Moscow a decade ago, as Russian territory.
Zelenski Cancels Visit to Spain to Attend Pope's Funeral
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski has canceled a visit to Spain upon learning of Pope Francis's passing. The president will travel to Rome this Saturday to attend the Pope's funeral, along with other leaders such as US President Donald Trump. According to Servimedia, Zelenski had a scheduled institutional visit to the Congress of Deputies and a meeting with the President of the Lower House, Francina Armengol.
Sources from the Lower House confirmed that it was an "institutional visit" scheduled for this Saturday. However, the death of Francis led the Ukrainian president to cancel this visit.
Putin Grants Russian Citizenship to a German Activist Assisting Russians in Donbass
Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted Russian citizenship to German activist Liana Kilinch, head of the 'Bridge of Peace, Aid to War Victims' foundation, which has been assisting Russians in Donbass, eastern Ukraine, since 2015. The presidential decree, granting Russian citizenship to seven other individuals, was published on Wednesday on the official legal information portal's website.
In interviews with the Russian press, 52-year-old Kilinch describes herself as an "anti-fascist" and a citizen of the former German Democratic Republic. "We emerged to help Donbass and then expanded our activities to Yemen, Syria, Cuba, Libya, Iraq, Lebanon, Peru, and Nepal. The reason for our creation was the start of Kiev's undeclared war in Donbass," she stated in an interview with the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda.
Ukraine Insists on Not Recognizing Crimea as Russian Territory
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko reiterated on Wednesday, coinciding with meetings on a possible ceasefire that her government's envoys are holding in London with European and US partners, that Kyiv will not recognize the Crimea peninsula as Russian territory.
"We will never recognize the occupation of Crimea," Sviridenko stated on her X account, referring to one of the conditions that the US is expected to propose to Ukraine to end the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski had already declared the day before that recognizing Crimea - which was occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014 - as part of the Russian Federation is an unacceptable option for Ukraine.
Sviridenko also mentioned that Ukraine will demand security guarantees if it is not given the possibility to join NATO, something that has already been ruled out by the US. The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated that "the first necessary step" towards peace is "a ceasefire by land, air, and sea."
Vance Affirms US Peace Proposal Requires Ukraine and Russia to Cede Territory
US Vice President J. D. Vance stated on Wednesday that the peace agreement proposed by his country to Russia and Ukraine is based on accepting territorial concessions from both nations. "We have presented a very explicit proposal to both Russians and Ukrainians, and it is time for them to accept it or for the United States to withdraw from this process," stated the US Vice President to the press at the airport in the Indian city of Agra, following a visit to the Taj Mahal.
Vance mentioned that this "very explicit proposal" outlines a path forward where each side would relinquish a portion of the territory they currently control. "The current lines, or a location near them, is where, ultimately, I believe the new conflict boundaries will be defined," Vance pointed out, suggesting that the US is considering an agreement that would likely solidify a territorial division near the current front lines.
EU Insists Crimea is Ukraine and Calls for Further Strengthening Kyiv
The European Union (EU) reiterated on Wednesday its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and emphasized that the Crimean peninsula, occupied by Russia, is part of its territory, urging further military reinforcement for Kyiv to have more strength in peace negotiations.
"We stand with Ukraine, support its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and when it comes to Crimea, the position is really clear: Crimea is Ukraine," stated EU spokesperson Guillaume Mercier during the daily press briefing of the European Commission. The spokesperson responded this way when asked about the "final offer" that US President Donald Trump made to achieve peace in Ukraine.
As reported by Axios on Wednesday, this offer includes US recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and unofficial recognition of Russian control over almost all occupied areas since the 2022 invasion. "Our position regarding peace talks has been very clear: it is up to Ukraine to set the conditions for a fair and lasting peace, and nothing will happen without Ukraine and the EU," Mercier indicated.
Zelenski States Ukraine Insists on Immediate Total Ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski declared on Wednesday that Ukraine insists on an immediate, total, and unconditional ceasefire with Moscow. In a Telegram message, Zelenski stated that Ukraine has reiterated that it does not rule out any dialogue format that could lead to a ceasefire.
Woman Arrested for Recruiting Kyrgyz Citizens for the War in Ukraine
The Justice system of Kyrgyzstan arrested Natalia Sekerina, an employee of the House of Russia in the city of Osh, in the south of the country, for two months for recruiting citizens of this Central Asian nation to fight in the war in Ukraine, reports Efe.
"The Pervomaisk District Court of Bishkek granted the request of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan to impose the precautionary measure on (Sergei) Lapushkin and Sekerina," the court's spokesperson, Nurzina Murzayeva, informed the Russian news agency Interfax. The other detainee, Lapushkin, worked in the press service of the Osh City Hall, located in the Fergana Valley.
"Ukraine is Willing to Negotiate, But Not to Surrender"
Ukraine is willing to negotiate but not to surrender, stated Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko on Wednesday after details of a US proposal requiring Ukraine to cede almost all territory currently occupied by Russia were made public, reports Reuters.
"There will be no agreement that provides Russia with the strongest bases it needs to regroup and return with greater violence," wrote Svyrydenko on X. "A total ceasefire, on land, air, and sea, is the first necessary step," she stated, adding that if Moscow opts for a limited pause, Kyiv will respond in kind.
Zelenski to Discuss Peace Efforts with President Ramaphosa in South Africa
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski will make a State visit to South Africa on Thursday to meet with his counterpart in that country, Cyril Ramaphosa, to discuss peace efforts in the face of the Russian invasion in a context marked by talks to achieve a possible ceasefire to the war mediated by the United States, reports Efe.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the South African Presidency, Vincent Magwenya, highlighted that Zelenski's trip, initially scheduled for April 10 but postponed to this day, is the first official visit to the African country by a Ukrainian head of state and comes after Ramaphosa's trip to Kyiv in June 2023.
"The visits provide South Africa and Ukraine with the opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, agriculture, and education," Magwenya stated. "Areas of cooperation will also be explored with the aim of supporting efforts to achieve lasting peace," he added.
Russia Warns Japan Against Using Russian Assets to Finance Ukraine
Russia warned Japan today against using the profits from frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine and threatened to take "severe response measures" if this were to happen, reports Efe.