Thu Feb 27 15:53:04 UTC 2025: ## Russia Rejects Land Concessions in Ukraine, Despite US Talks

**Istanbul, Turkey** – Amidst renewed US-Russia talks aimed at normalizing relations, the Kremlin firmly rejected any possibility of returning Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia as part of a future peace deal. This stance, declared by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, represents a major obstacle to resolving the ongoing conflict.

The statement follows a meeting between Russian and US officials in Istanbul, part of a broader diplomatic push initiated by US President Donald Trump, who has actively sought to end the three-year conflict. These talks build on a previous high-level meeting in Saudi Arabia and aim to repair diplomatic ties severely damaged during the Biden administration.

While President Vladimir Putin expressed cautious optimism about the potential for resolving the conflict through engagement with the US, Peskov unequivocally stated that ceding any of the annexed territories – Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – is non-negotiable. These regions, now constitutionally part of Russia, are considered an “inseparable part” of the country, Peskov emphasized.

Ukraine vehemently rejected Russia’s claim. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhy dismissed the annexation as illegal and described Russia’s reliance on its constitution to justify it as “laughable.” Ukraine maintains its internationally recognized borders.

Despite controlling much of the annexed territories, Russia’s advances have been met with stiff resistance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while acknowledging his army’s limitations in reclaiming all lost land, has suggested the possibility of territorial exchanges through diplomacy – a proposal Russia has also rejected. Simultaneously, Russia has reported recent territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, claiming the recapture of the village of Nikolsky.

Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Trump on Friday to discuss continued US aid. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urging the US to guarantee any ceasefire agreement to prevent further Russian aggression. These developments highlight the complex and precarious state of negotiations, with significant disagreements remaining on core issues.

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