Rapid developments are unfolding on the Ukrainian diplomatic front, with Russia articulating for the first time since February 2022 a explicit and official hard ultimatum to the unconstitutional president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to withdraw Kyiv's troops from Donbass within the next 2 months, according to RT. Zelensky himself confirmed the Russian demand, clarifying that the terms were relayed to him through American mediators. Meanwhile, diplomatic processes for the Ukrainian issue are intensifying, as on April 1, the Ukrainian delegation will hold talks with representatives of the United States, including the US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. At the same time, the decision by US President Donald Trump to give Russia the green light for oil transport to Cuba is being heavily discussed in diplomatic circles, as the move sparked scenarios of secret negotiations regarding Ukraine. In any case, the Kremlin is now signaling to the Ukrainians that they are called to withdraw immediately from Donbass, otherwise the Kyiv regime risks losing everything, as Russian officials characteristically pointed out.
Zelensky: The Russians gave us a 2-month ultimatum
Specifically, Russia gave Ukraine a two-month deadline to withdraw the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donbass, otherwise the terms of the peace treaty will be modified, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, as reported by RT. The Ukrainian leader clarified that the terms were relayed to him through American mediators. "Russia expects to occupy Donbass within two months. I am surprised that anyone can still believe this," he added.
Russia: New terms will emerge for Ukraine if it does not negotiate seriously
Kyiv will soon face new terms for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, revealed days ago during a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, which was convened at the request of the Ukrainian side, according to the Tass agency. "The Russian President has repeatedly confirmed that we are unequivocally committed to a negotiated solution and to achieving our strategic goals through diplomatic means," the diplomat noted.
Ukraine's refusal to negotiate will confront Zelensky with new terms
However, Vasily Nebenzya pointed out that Kyiv refuses to negotiate and seeks the continuation of military action at all costs, a move urged by its European allies. "Soon it will have to face new settlement terms," emphasized Russia's permanent representative to the UN. Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko announced the date for new negotiations regarding Ukraine. He stated that Moscow is ready for them at any time.
Zelensky's revelation and Rubio's heavy charge regarding Donbass
Previously, Zelensky told UNIAN that his statements regarding the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donbass and the US position were accurate. He explained that the United States is considering providing security guarantees to Ukraine only after the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donbass, as Moscow insists. Zelensky, however, believes that the agreements will not work in this form. For his part, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Zelensky lied when he claimed that Washington is forcing Kyiv to withdraw its armed forces from areas of Donbass controlled by Ukraine.
Rubio's bombshell: "Zelensky is lying about Donbass"
The claim by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, according to which Washington demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbass in exchange for security guarantees, is proving to be groundless. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio directly accused the Ukrainian leader of lying, in statements on March 27 broadcast by the DRM News channel on YouTube. 
"It is a lie. I saw him saying it and it is unfortunate that he makes such statements, because he knows it is not true. It is not what he was told," the diplomat characteristically stated. According to him, it was clarified to Zelensky that the security guarantees are not going to take effect before the conflict is terminated. On March 25, Zelensky had claimed that the United States called on Ukraine to withdraw its forces from Donbass in exchange for security guarantees. He estimates that President Donald Trump continues to choose to exert greater pressure toward Kyiv.
Critical NATO - US - Ukraine negotiations on April 1
Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he plans to hold talks with representatives of the United States on April 1, including the US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "A video call with the American side was scheduled for tomorrow. I will also participate; I have also been invited. I discussed it last night with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. We agreed that he, I, the US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, the American leader's son-in-law Jared Kushner, Senator Lindsey Graham, and whoever else will be there, will discuss where we stand and how close we are to trilateral agreements, or at least a trilateral meeting," he stated in a video posted on the UNIAN agency's Telegram channel. Zelensky added that the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, who according to him is currently in Turkey, will also participate in the negotiations.
Zelensky: Ukraine is ready for a Passover truce and compromise… if Russia makes an offer
Ukraine is ready for a Passover truce and other compromises if Russia makes an offer, Ukrainian President Zelensky emphasized earlier. "We are ready for a ceasefire at Passover. But people who respect life talk about a ceasefire and ending the war for life, not just for a few days. But, of course, we are ready for any compromise," the Ukrainian President stated. He added that such compromises should not affect the dignity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Zelensky previously stated that during his tour of the Middle East, he discussed Kyiv's exchange of experience in deblocking maritime routes, which could be useful for deblocking the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Vedomosti, experts estimate that Washington's decision to allow the transfer of Russian oil to Cuba may be part of broader political negotiations with Russia. These negotiations are linked to US efforts to achieve progress on the Ukrainian issue, to secure a Russian contribution to resolving the crisis in the Middle East, and to prioritize the Iranian issue in their foreign policy.
A tanker that arrived in Cuba... showed secret negotiations for Ukraine
At the same time, there is intense background regarding the decision of US President Donald Trump to give Russia the green light for the transfer of oil to Cuba, as the move sparked scenarios about secret negotiations regarding the Ukrainian issue. The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying a humanitarian cargo of 100,000 tons of oil, arrived in Cuba, according to an announcement by the Russian Ministry of Transport. This is the first ship to deliver oil to the island after the announcement of an energy blockade by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, on January 29. On March 30, Trump personally stated that he does not oppose this mission. Analyzing the situation, Russian expert Vladimir Vasiliev estimated that the limited supplies of oil to the Caribbean island from Russia may be the result of agreements between American and Russian officials during recent talks in Washington. However, he emphasized that this quantity is not enough to solve Cuba's energy problems, adding that "Washington is still interested in regime change" in the country.
Geopolitical gesture toward Moscow
Pavel Koshkin estimated that the permission for the Russian ship constitutes a gesture of goodwill from the US toward Russia, aimed at extracting concessions on other fronts. In his view, Trump continues to seek a solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict through dialogue with Moscow, while also expecting Russian help to end the conflicts in the Middle East.
Priority: The crisis with Iran
"At this moment, the basic priority of the White House is resolving the crisis with Iran, which is causing a rise in fuel prices. The US does not want to overextend," he noted. He added that after the resolution of the Iranian issue, the remaining priorities of American foreign policy will also become clear. It remains unclear if the US plans regime change in Cuba, while it is not excluded that the issue of the country will constitute the next big front after the crisis with Iran.
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