Russia's Core Demand for Peace: Ukrainian Troops Must Leave Donbas.

Russia, Ukraine, and the US Hold Talks

According to Novyny.live: Russia has stated that the withdrawal of Ukrainian military forces from the Donbas region is a fundamental requirement for any peace agreement to be reached. Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov clarified that Russia's representatives in talks with the US and Ukraine will be officials from its Ministry of Defense. These discussions are part of ongoing trilateral negotiations taking place in Abu Dhabi.

During the talks, the issue of frozen Russian assets in the United States, valued at less than $5 billion, was also raised. Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, expressed the view that Ukraine must significantly strengthen its position before entering any negotiation process. For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described a potential scenario of Ukrainian troops leaving Donbas as the worst possible outcome.

The Complexity of Peace Negotiations

This situation underscores the intricate and multi-faceted nature of the peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. Russia's demand for a Ukrainian military withdrawal from Donbas could become a major obstacle to reaching a compromise. The Ukrainian side, by emphasizing the need to bolster its own position, is attempting to avoid any situation that could be perceived as a concession, which might influence the future trajectory of the conflict and its consequences for the wider region. The war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has made territorial control a deeply contentious issue for any potential settlement.