Russia-Ukraine Struggle: With US President Donald Trump pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a ceasefire and European nations extending assist to Kyiv, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly cleared his circumstances for a doable ceasefire settlement. Nonetheless, all of it will rely upon Ukraine whether or not it accepts the circumstances or not. The ultimate phrases and circumstances can be recognized solely after official negotiations start between Zelenskyy and Putin.
What Does Putin Need?
In keeping with a Reuters report, Putin desires Ukraine to not simply drop its NATO bid but additionally to withdraw from the jap Donbas area and to not host Western troops. Throughout a virtually three-hour assembly with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska on Saturday, Russia reportedly laid out contemporary calls for as a part of ongoing talks.
Sources quoted by Reuters mentioned the proposal marks a departure from Moscow’s earlier stance. Again in June 2024, President Vladimir Putin had insisted that Ukraine give up all 4 areas claimed by Russia — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Additionally Learn: PM Modi, French President Macron Focus on Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Gaza Wars
Putin is now mentioned to be prioritizing management over the Donbas area, which covers Donetsk and Luhansk, whereas freezing the battle traces in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. In keeping with U.S. intelligence estimates, Russian forces at the moment maintain about 88 % of Donbas and practically 73 % of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
The proposal additionally means that Russia may hand again smaller pockets of land it has seized in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk as a part of a broader settlement. However territory is just not the one concern. Putin can be urgent for agency ensures that Ukraine won’t ever be part of NATO, restrictions on Ukraine’s navy capabilities, and a dedication to maintain Western troops overseas. As well as, the Kremlin reportedly desires NATO to pledge that it’ll not push additional eastward.
Additionally Learn: ‘Laundromat For Kremlin’: Donald Trump Aide Accuses India Of ‘Perpetuating Russia-Ukraine Struggle, Not Creating Peace’
Zelenskyy Unlikely To Agree
Notably, Zelenskyy had already rejected related calls for prior to now and isn’t prone to settle for any situation the place Ukraine has to cede land to Russia. With Crimea already underneath Russian management, Zelenskyy has strongly advocated for a full, no-strings-attached ceasefire lasting a minimum of 30 days, calling it a foundational step towards significant diplomacy. He calls for robust, tangible safety ensures from Western allies—together with the U.S. and Europe, presumably modelled after NATO protections. Zelenskyy has additionally referred to as for the discharge of all prisoners of conflict and kidnapped kids as a precondition for advancing ceasefire talks and diplomacy.