Vladimir Putin's top diplomat issues ultimatum to Donald Trump as peace deal falls apart

It's yet another set back in the talks - which have yet to produce any significant breakthroughs (Image: Getty)

Russia has appeared to effectively reject a peace deal proposal put forward by Donald Trump, as Vladimir Putin's top diplomat issued an ultimatum to Washington. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian President's foreign minister has said it was "imperative" that Moscow gets "international recognition" of its sovereignty over Crimea, a part of Ukraine which Russia annexed in 2014, as well as Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

These four oblasts are only partly occupied by Putin's forces, The Telegraph reports, and in recent months Russia has failed to make significant advances, while suffering heavy losses on the battlefield. Lavrov's remarks were published on the Russian foreign ministry's website in English, having first appeared in an interview with Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

"Demilitarising and de-Nazifying Ukraine is also on the agenda, along with lifting sanctions, withdrawing lawsuits and cancelling arrest warrants, as well as returning Russian assets subjected to the so-called freeze in the West," Lavrov said, repeating Kremlin propaganda about the supposedly fascist character of Ukraine's democratically elected government.

Sergei Lavrov (Image: Getty)

"We will also insist on obtaining solid security guarantees for the Russian Federation in order to shield it from any threats emanating from hostile activities by NATO, the European Union and some of their member states along our western border," he said.

He also repeated Kremlin claims that Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky is standing in the way of negotiations, despite Ukraine previously agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the US that Russia rejected.

Talks led by Washington continue, though Trump has appeared increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress so far, as Russia continues to strike Ukrainian cities.

Trump's seven-point peace plan would see Moscow being formally recognised as the owner of Crimea and most of Kherson, with US also effectively recognising Russian control of the four partly occupied Ukrainian territories on current lines of control, as per The Independent.

Kyiv would get the north-western slice of Kherson and unhindered access to the mouth of the Dnipro River, while the US would take over the running of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. It would also see Russia getting relief from US sanctions, and cooperating with the US on energy.

Zelensky rejectted it outright, saying: "This violates our constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine."

Trump meets with Zelenskyy in St. Peter’s Basilica

Following a meeting with Ukrainian President at Pope Francis' funeral last weekend, Trump appeared to turn his ire on the Russian leader, having previously heaped political and diplomatic pressure almost solely on Ukraine and Zelensky.

Trump wrote on X over the weekend that there was "no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days".

"It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!"

Putin has since declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire next week to mark Russia's Victory Day in the Second World War, with Kyiv reponding by offering a month-long pause to the fighting, to negotiate a long-term settlement.

It came after Putin announced a surprise - and thereby ineffective - truce over Easter, which both Kyiv and Moscow accused each other of breaking.

On Monday, The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt Leavitt told reporters that Trump was increasingly frustrated with with both Putin and Zelensky, and that he wants to see a "permanent ceasefire".