- Putin stated that Russia now controls most of the region and is determined to secure the remainder
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected any plan that would see Kyiv hand over land to Russia
- Kyiv has maintained that Russia is deliberately delaying any ceasefire in hopes of capturing more territory
Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again insisted that Ukrainian forces must completely withdraw from the Donbas region or face further military action.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Kremlin leader dismissed any suggestion of compromise, stressing that Moscow would claim the territory by force if Kyiv refused to leave.
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In an interview with India Today, Putin stated that Russia now controls most of the region and is determined to secure the remainder on its own terms. His remarks come as diplomatic shuttles continue, following fresh US-led efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict.
Washington’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently held lengthy discussions with Putin in Moscow and is expected to meet Ukraine’s negotiating team in Florida next.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly rejected any plan that would see Kyiv hand over land to Russia, insisting that Ukraine’s borders are non-negotiable.
While former US President Donald Trump said the latest talks in the Kremlin were “reasonably good,” he acknowledged that the process remained uncertain.
The original outline of the US peace plan reportedly proposed giving Moscow de facto control over parts of Donbas still held by Ukraine, but Witkoff presented an amended version during his visit.
Putin admitted he had not reviewed the new draft before the meeting, saying that discussions with Witkoff and Jared Kushner required extensive clarification. He added that Russia agreed with some points but rejected others, without specifying the areas of disagreement.
According to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, the talks produced “no compromise,” with Moscow claiming that gains on the battlefield have bolstered its negotiating position.
Kyiv has maintained that Russia is deliberately delaying any ceasefire in hopes of capturing more territory.
European leaders are also expressing unease, with a leaked report from Der Spiegel suggesting that France, Germany, and Finland fear Ukraine could be pressured into an unfavorable deal.
The White House, however, insists its team is pursuing a “durable and enforceable peace.”
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