[By Guancha Observer Network, Shao Yun] Local time on April 24th, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov accepted an interview with the American CBS. He said that the Russian side "is ready to reach an agreement with the United States on the Ukraine issue," but there are still some details of the agreement that need to be "fine-tuned."

When asked by the host about President Trump's statement on the 23rd that the US and Russia "already have an agreement" and hope to reach one, Lavrov said: "The statement made by President Trump mentioned an agreement, and we are also ready to reach an agreement. But there are still some specific points in the agreement... that need to be fine-tuned."

"President Trump believes - I think he has reason to believe so - that we are moving in the right direction," Lavrov added, noting that Russia and the US will continue to maintain contact regarding the situation in Ukraine in the future.

Foreign Minister Lavrov interviewed on CBS program on April 24th. CBS video screenshot.

Last week, several officials from the Trump administration repeatedly stated publicly that if there were no signs of clear progress in the talks between Ukraine and Russia in the short term, the US would no longer participate in mediation. Following this, on the 22nd, Axios News Network reported, citing a "direct source familiar with the matter," that the US had submitted Trump's "final peace agreement proposal" to Ukraine last week in Paris.

It is reported that the proposal was only "one page long" and included content such as the US recognizing Crimea as part of Russian territory and "informally" acknowledging Russia's control over almost all occupied areas since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out in 2022. According to this proposal, Ukraine would not join NATO but could join the EU, and security guarantees would be provided by European countries.

In response, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said on the 22nd that after a ceasefire is reached, Ukraine is willing to sit at the negotiation table in any form, but will never recognize the occupied territories as belonging to Russia. "There is nothing to negotiate on this issue; it exceeds our constitutional provisions," he said.

On the 23rd, Trump posted on social media, accusing Zelenskyy's "incendiary remarks" of being "very harmful" to peace negotiations with Russia, stating that this would only prolong the conflict. On the 24th, when asked what concessions Russia would offer during the negotiation process of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump replied that Russia "not occupying (Ukraine) entirely" was already "quite a big concession."

According to BBC reports on the 25th, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said that under constant pressure from Trump, Ukraine may have to give up land as part of reaching a peace agreement with Russia. "This is unfair. But for temporary peace, perhaps this can be considered a solution, temporary peace," Klitschko said.

BBC noted that Klitschko, leader of the Ukrainian opposition, is one of the highest-ranking political figures in Ukraine who has openly expressed that Ukraine may need to give up its territory. The report stated that just hours before he made the above comments, Russian forces launched a large-scale air strike against aviation, missile, and armored manufacturing enterprises within Ukraine early on the 24th. This caused 12 deaths and 90 injuries in Kiev, marking the largest and deadliest air strike by Russian forces on Kiev this year.

Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said on the 23rd in an interview with French weekly "Le Point" that the conflict in Ukraine could "end immediately" as long as Ukrainian forces withdraw from the four regions incorporated into Russian territory according to the Russian constitution and abandon joining NATO. Peskov emphasized that Russian President Putin advocates achieving peace while ensuring Russian interests, which include Europe no longer providing weapons to Ukraine or continuing to support Ukraine through the "voluntary alliance" of Britain and France, among others.

This article is an exclusive contribution by the Observer Network and cannot be reproduced without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497206322229625371/

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