Russia said on Monday that its position on stopping the war in Ukraine remained the same as a year ago, when President Vladimir Putin set his conditions: Kiev to completely withdraw its troops from several key Ukrainian regions and abandon its intention to join NATO. This was reported by Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Putin and US President Donald Trump are expected to meet on Friday in Alaska, the first meeting between US and Russian leaders since 2021. The main topic will be ending the conflict, with Trump already saying that he believes both sides should exchange territories they currently control.
Russia currently controls about 19% of Ukraine's territory, including all of Crimea, all of Luhansk Oblast, over 70% of Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson Oblasts, as well as parts of Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts.
Following media reports that Washington believes Putin can compromise on his territorial demands, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexei Fadeev was asked if there had been a change in Moscow's position. "Russia's position remains unchanged and was announced in this very hall more than a year ago, on June 14, 2024," he said, referring to a speech Putin made at the ministry at the time.
In this statement, Putin demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, which were then still under Ukrainian control, as well as Kiev's formal rejection of NATO membership and a commitment to neutrality. Among his conditions was the guarantee of the rights of the Russian-speaking population, along with the recognition of the "reality" that Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions are part of Russia.
Putin insisted that these conditions be enshrined in international agreements. Ukraine rejected the proposal as an "absurd ultimatum" and stressed that it would never recognize the Russian occupation, citing the 1991 borders recognized by most countries. With the current front line, meeting the Russian demands would mean Ukraine giving up an additional 21,000 sq km of territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia must first agree to a ceasefire before discussing territorial issues. He rejected Russia's demand that Ukraine withdraw its troops from Donbas and abandon its defensive lines.