**Russia Delays Peace Talks to Gain Advantage**
Russia is intentionally prolonging peace talks on Ukraine to gain more territory and strengthen its negotiating position with the US, according to a report by the Moscow Times.
A Russian diplomatic source told the newspaper that time is working in Russia’s favor, and the Kremlin wants to “make the most of it.” This comes after US President Donald Trump’s recent calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. After his talk with Trump, Putin claimed he had ordered a 30-day pause on strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
**Russia Rejects Ceasefire Proposal**
Washington and Kyiv previously backed a broader 30-day ceasefire that would also halt ground operations, but Moscow rejected the proposal unless it included a suspension of foreign military support for Ukraine and other conditions that would weaken Kyiv’s defenses. A Russian official told the Moscow Times that the Kremlin hopes Washington will either tolerate further Russian offensives or pressure Ukraine into withdrawing from partially occupied regions.
**Ukraine Refuses to Recognize Occupied Territories**
Zelensky said on March 12 that Kyiv will not recognize any occupied regions as part of Russia in a potential future peace agreement with Moscow. A new round of US-Russian talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine began in Riyadh on March 24, focusing on a ceasefire in the Black Sea and broader truce negotiations.
**Russian Businesses Cut Recruitment**
Russian businesses have significantly scaled back their recruitment efforts in early 2025, with job openings falling 15% compared to the same period last year, according to pro-state Russian outlet Izvestia. This comes amid Trump’s ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and a broader peace agreement in Ukraine.
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