The Kremlin sets a condition for ending the war: Ukraine's withdrawal from Donbas
In a significant development in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the Kremlin renewed its call for the Ukrainian leadership to take decisive steps to end the ongoing conflict, stipulating the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas as a prerequisite for any future political settlement. These statements were made by Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's diplomatic advisor, who emphasized the need for Kyiv to make what he termed a "courageous decision" to withdraw immediately.
Details of the Russian condition and the situation on the ground
Russia's demands focus primarily on the remaining territory of Donetsk (eastern Ukraine) still under Ukrainian control, estimated at about one-fifth of the region's area. Moscow considers complete control over the administrative borders of the Donbas region a non-negotiable strategic objective, especially after Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia) in September 2022, a move not recognized by the international community.
The Donbas region is the industrial heart of Ukraine and has witnessed an armed conflict since 2014 between government forces and pro-Russian separatists, before the conflict escalated into a full-blown war in February 2022. Observers believe that Russia's insistence on a Ukrainian withdrawal reflects Moscow's desire to establish a new reality on the ground before entering into any final negotiations.
Putin and Trump agree on a ceasefire
In the context of diplomatic activity, Ushakov revealed details of a "friendly" telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump. The Russian official indicated that both sides agreed on the futility of a "temporary ceasefire," believing that piecemeal solutions or temporary freezes of the conflict would only prolong the war and provide an opportunity for rearmament and a resumption of hostilities.
Ushakov explained that Moscow and Washington (via Trump) agree that the current European and Ukrainian ceasefire proposals are useless, and that what is needed is a comprehensive agreement that addresses the root causes of the security and political crisis.
Trump Initiative and Joint Working Groups
The call came at the initiative of Donald Trump ahead of his anticipated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida, where Trump expressed his desire to end the war as quickly as possible, noting that peace would open the door to "amazing cooperation" between the parties involved.
In a practical step that could pave the way for a negotiating path, President Putin agreed to a proposal to establish two special working groups to resolve the conflict. The first group will be tasked with discussing security issues , while the second group will examine the economic aspects and repercussions of the war, indicating the possibility of a new approach to the solution that differs from previous initiatives.
