Ukraine ready to talk with Russia – but only after an initial ceasefire

Ukraine is ready to talk about a peace deal with Russia – but only after a ceasefire is in place, a Ukrainian government source has told the sky news.

A peace proposal from the US – widely reported in the media – includes recognition of Russian control over the illegally annexed Ukrainian peninsula, Crimea.

US President Donald Trump's reported seven-point plan to end the war in Ukraine includes:

An immediate ceasefire in Ukraine;

The start of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia;

Banning Ukraine's membership in NATO;

Official recognition by the US of Russian sovereignty over Crimea;

De facto US recognition of the four occupied Ukrainian territories along the current front line;

Signing a minerals agreement, where Ukraine shares profits from natural resources with American companies;

The lifting of all US sanctions against Moscow and cooperation in the field of energy.

But the Ukrainian government source said that "if the Americans... promised this to the Russians, why should they receive such a gift now, when there is not even a ceasefire? We don't know the answer to this question."

The comments reflect the tension that exists behind the scenes as British, American, Ukrainian, French and German officials meet in London on Wednesday to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

The meeting was scheduled to be held at the level of foreign ministers of the five countries, but was reduced to the level of officials after Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, withdrew. /Telegraph/