Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov confirms Moscow hasn’t received a peace plan and refuses to compromise on territories.
Russia Rejects Peace Plan
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that Moscow has not received any official peace plan. In an interview with TASS, Lavrov mentioned that Russia is only aware of the 20-point peace plan agreed upon by Ukraine and the European Union from press leaks. He described the document as “an attempt to rape the American initiative.”
Lavrow suggested that based on Donald Trump’s original plan, the war could have ended quickly as it included all aspects of conflict resolution. The Russian Foreign Minister made it clear that Russia is not prepared to compromise on territorial issues or security guarantees.
Russia’s Territorial Claims
Lavrov specified which Ukrainian territories Russia considers its own: Crimea, Donbas, and Novorossiya. The latter term refers to Ukrainian regions including Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Dnipro, and Odesa, all of which are illegally occupied by Russian forces.
Another point of contention between Kyiv and Moscow is control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the renovation of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station. The United States, participating in negotiations, wants the nuclear plant to be jointly operated by Ukraine, Russia, and the US, with each country controlling 33% and Washington serving as the main supervisor. Ukraine opposes Russian control over the facility.
Civilian Casualties in Drone Attack
A Russian drone attack in the city of Bohodukhiv, west of Kharkiv, resulted in the deaths of a father and his three children. The drone struck a house where a five-member family was living, completely destroying the building.
The victims included a 34-year-old father and three children, with ages 12 months and 2 years old. The pregnant mother was rescued from the rubble. The family had relocated to the city from a nearby village just days before the attack. The previous night, Russia launched 129 drones at Ukraine, with Ukrainian authorities reporting that 112 were neutralized.