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Russia lays out demands for talks with US on Ukraine – sources
STORY: Russia has given the U.S. a list of demands for a deal to end its war against Ukraine and reset relations with Washington.That’s according to two people familiar with the matter Wednesday, though specifics were unclear.It comes after Washington had proposed a deal for a 30-day truce, to break up the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.The sources said Russian and American officials discussed the terms in detail for the past three weeks…..they described the Kremlin’s terms as ‘broad’, and similar to demands Russia previously presented to Ukraine, the U.S. and NATO.Those earlier terms include no NATO membership for Kyiv, no deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine, and international recognition that Crimea and four provinces belong to Russia.On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would agree to a 30-day truce as a first step toward peace talks.While Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to such a potential deal is still uncertain.The Trump administration has not explained how it is approaching its negotiations with Moscow. The two sides are engaged in two separate conversations: one on resetting U.S.-Russia relations and the other on a Ukraine peace agreement.The administration appears to be divided on how to proceed.This all comes as Russia’s defense ministry claims to have retaken territory held by Ukraine troops in Kursk, in western Russia.Ukraine says its soldiers will keep operating in Kursk as long as needed, and says its troops are fighting in and around the major town of Sudzha.