From: Transform Ukraine By Douglas Landro / May 21, 2025
As Russian Officials Reject Ukrainian Government’s Legitimacy After Putin-Trump Call, EU and UK Impose New Sanctions While Battlefield Advances Continue
Summary of the Day – May 20, 2025
One day after Trump’s “productive” call with Putin supposedly set the stage for peace negotiations, Moscow’s true intentions became clear as Russian Security Council Secretary Dmitry Medvedev declared no Ukrainian official has authority to conclude a peace treaty. The stark contradiction exposed the Kremlin’s continued refusal to recognize Ukraine’s elected government, with Medvedev demanding Ukraine’s complete demilitarization, rejection of foreign aid, and cession of annexed territories. President Zelensky accused Russia of merely “buying time to continue the war,” while European powers moved forward with substantive action, the EU approving its 17th sanctions package targeting nearly 200 shadow fleet vessels, and the UK imposing 100 new measures against Russian entities. On the battlefield, Russian forces continued advancing in multiple sectors including Sumy, Kharkiv, Chasiv Yar, and Zaporizhia directions.
Russia’s True Position: Medvedev Denies Ukrainian Government’s Legitimacy
Senior Russian officials continue to deny the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president, government, and constitution and Ukraine’s sovereignty despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent efforts to feign interest in peace negotiations to end the war. Russian Security Council Secretary Dmitry Medvedev claimed during the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum on May 20 that there are currently no Ukrainian officials with the authority to conclude a peace treaty with Russia and that Russia may need to consult Ukraine’s Constitution to identify authorized negotiation partners.
Medvedev questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty and claimed that Ukraine is a “failed state” whose leaders’ lack of legitimacy raises “serious questions” about who Russia can negotiate with during future peace negotiations. Medvedev’s claims directly contradict Putin’s reported agreement with US President Donald Trump to immediately begin bilateral negotiations with Ukraine. Medvedev’s statements indicate that Russia is, in fact, not interested in engaging with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior Ukrainian government officials who are key to bilateral negotiations to end the war.
Voice of Ukraine 