Lavrov Says Zelensky Illegitimate Under Ukrainian Constitution; Russia Refuses Peace Deal Signing, Trump Dismisses Claims

Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, have stated that they do not recognize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a legitimate leader according to the Ukrainian constitution. Lavrov described Zelensky as the de facto head of the regime but emphasized that no peace deal or agreement can be signed by him without clear recognition of legitimacy. This position was reiterated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who questioned who would actually sign any documents with Zelensky. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed Russia's claims as posturing and emphasized that such statements do not affect foreign policy. Trump also addressed questions about his administration investigating mortgage records of officials, asserting that the records are public and criticizing the media for not doing their job properly.