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Russia 'ready' for talks, but demands recognition of occupied territories
Russia claimed it was ready to conduct talks with Ukraine ‘without any preconditions’, AFP said state media reported, after US president Donald Trump questioned Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s willingness to halt the three-year offensive.
But then in other comments, reported almost simultaneously by AFP, the country’s most senior diplomat said that its claims over five Ukrainian regions including Crimea were “imperative” to talks aimed at resolving the conflict.
“International recognition of Russia’s ownership of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions is imperative,” foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told Brazilian newspaper O Globo, using the Kremlin’s names for the Ukrainian regions.
In the interview, published online here, Lavrov also said the ball was “not in our court” as he tried to put pressure on Kyiv to make concessions in order to progress the talks.
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Bardella ready to stand in for Le Pen in 2027 race
In other European developments over the weekend, the National Rally leader Jordan Bardella said he would be ready to step in as the French far-right’s presidential candidate in 2027 if Marine Le Pen is ultimately barred from running.
Le Pen was handed a five-year public office ban after a court found her and some members of her party guilty in March of misappropriation of funds.
The Paris appeals court has said it will deliver a verdict on her case by next summer, potentially allowing her to contest the 2027 presidential race if her conviction is overturned, which is seen as unlikely, or the ban on running for public office lifted.
Speaking to the Le Parisien newspaper, he insisted that “Marine is presumed innocent and we will continue to use all possible means … to continue to proclaim our innocence in this matter.”
But in quotes translated by AFP, he added:
“There is no ambiguity about the fact that Marine Le Pen is my candidate, and if she was prevented tomorrow, I think I would be able to say to you that I will be the candidate. I cannot be clearer than that.”
Vatican expected to set timeline for pope election
Meanwhile in the Vatican, cardinals are expected on Monday to pick a date for the conclave to elect a new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, after the death of Pope Francis, AFP said.
Under the rules, a conclave should begin 15 and 20 days after a pope’s death or resignation, indicating an early May date, when the official period of mourning ends.
There are more than 250 cardinals in total, but those over the age of 80 are ineligible to take part in the conclave. That leaves 135 eligible cardinals, most of them appointed by Pope Francis.
Russia 'ready' for talks, but demands recognition of occupied territories
Russia claimed it was ready to conduct talks with Ukraine ‘without any preconditions’, AFP said state media reported, after US president Donald Trump questioned Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s willingness to halt the three-year offensive.
But then in other comments, reported almost simultaneously by AFP, the country’s most senior diplomat said that its claims over five Ukrainian regions including Crimea were “imperative” to talks aimed at resolving the conflict.
“International recognition of Russia’s ownership of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions is imperative,” foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told Brazilian newspaper O Globo, using the Kremlin’s names for the Ukrainian regions.
In the interview, published online here, Lavrov also said the ball was “not in our court” as he tried to put pressure on Kyiv to make concessions in order to progress the talks.
Pro-Ukraine politician picked to lead German diplomacy in Merz's government
In good news for Kyiv elsewhere, Johann Wadephul, an experienced pro-Ukraine politician from the conservative CDU, will be Germany’s next foreign minister, the party said in a statement.
Wadephul, 62, has long been a close confidant of incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz and a key adviser to him on foreign policy issues, AFP noted, adding that he is known for pushing for more weapons to support Ukraine.
Wadephul will be the first German foreign minister from CDU since 1966.
In other interesting appointments, Katherina Reiche is expected to get the economy portfolio, and Karsten Wildberger, CEO of MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group, will lead the new digital ministry tasked with rapid digitisation of public services.
But all of these appointments hinge on the CDU/CSU-SPD coalition deal being formally confirmed by SPD members. Their vote closes tomorrow, with the result expected on Wednesday.
If all goes well, Merz should be formally elected new chancellor, replacing Olaf Scholz, in early May.
Morning opening: What's next for Ukraine?
US President Donald Trump has said he thinks Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to give up Crimea, despite his Ukrainian counterpart’s previous assertions on the Black Sea peninsula that was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Not sure if Zelenskyy or Ukraine will agree with that suggestion.
Speaking over the weekend, just days after the pair met at Pope Francis’s funeral in the Vatican, Trump said “Oh, I think so,” in response to a question on whether he thought Zelenskyy was ready to “give up” the territory.
German defence minister Boris Pistorius on Sunday said the US proposal for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia was “akin to a capitulation”.
In an interview with the broadcaster ARD, he said that Kyiv knew that a peace agreement may involve territorial concessions.
“But these will certainly not go … as far as they do in the latest proposal from the US president,” Pistorius said. “Ukraine on its own could have got a year ago what was included in that [Trump] proposal, it is akin to a capitulation. I cannot discern any added value.”
Despite the comments on Crimea, the US president expressed newfound sympathy for his Ukrainian counterpart on Sunday, saying he “wants to do something good for his country” and “is working hard”.
Asked what he wants Putin to do, Trump replied: “Well, I want him to stop shooting. Sit down and sign the deal. We have the confines of a deal, I believe, and I want him to sign it and be done with it.”
“Do you trust President Putin?” Trump was asked.
“I’ll let you know in about two weeks,” Trump said.
Just this morning, Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the “feat” of Pyongyang’s troops in helping wrest back the area held by Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region, AFP reported.
“The Korean friends acted, guided by the sentiments of solidarity, justice and real camaraderie,” the Kremlin cited Putin as saying.
Let’s see what updates we’re going to get during the day.
We are also expecting updates on the new government formation process in Germany, a Danish royal visit to Greenland, and potential updates on the timeline for the process to pick Pope Francis’s successor.
It’s Monday, 28 April 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
