Russian and US officials accused Ukraine of stalling ceasefire negotiations after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refused a deal that would solidify Russian control of all of the control it has gained over the course of the war.
"Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There's nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution," he said at a press conference in London on Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump wrote that Zelensky's refusal made peace talks more difficult.
"It’s inflammatory statements like Zelensky’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country," he wrote in a Truth Social post.
"We are very close to a Deal, but the man with “no cards to play” should now, finally, GET IT DONE."
This came as combined overnight missile and drone attacks killed nine people in Ukrainian capital Kyiv and injured 63, local emergency services said.