Moscow: Russia announced on Monday that international recognition of its annexation of five Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, is a "prerequisite" for any potential peace talks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that "international recognition of Russia's ownership of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, is indispensable for settling the war in Ukraine."

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Lavrov added that the dialogue between Russia and the United States on a settlement in Ukraine is ongoing, with hopes of reaching mutually acceptable results. He emphasized the importance of international acknowledgment of Russia's claims to these territories as a condition for peace negotiations.

Regarding direct negotiations with Ukraine, the Kremlin spokesman confirmed that Moscow is still awaiting a "signal" from Kyiv to resume talks. The spokesman noted that discussions between Russia and the United States on the Ukrainian issue continue, with the aim of achieving a peaceful resolution.

The Kremlin highlighted that US efforts to advance the peace process in Ukraine are ongoing, and Moscow has expressed its readiness to engage in dialogue. However, concerning potential talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin indicated that no talks are currently scheduled, but they could be arranged if necessary.