Zelensky Rejects Crimea Deal, While Russia Issues Nuclear Warning

On Wednesday, President Zelensky rejected the White House's peace proposals, which included recognizing Russian control over Crimea. He stated that such a move would violate Ukraine's constitution, emphasizing that Crimea is Ukrainian territory.

In response, former President Trump criticized Zelensky's statements, claiming they hindered peace negotiations. Trump painted a bleak picture of Ukraine's situation, suggesting they could either accept peace or face further losses.

However, on Thursday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reported that Zelensky was open to an unconditional ceasefire. These comments were made during a joint press conference in Pretoria.

Meanwhile, Sergei Shoigu, a key ally of President Putin and head of the Russian Security Council, stated that Russia reserved the right to use nuclear weapons if a foreign power showed aggression towards Russia or Belarus. He also warned that deploying peacekeeping troops in Ukraine could lead to a direct conflict between NATO and Russia, potentially escalating into World War Three.