Bishkek: In the latest development in the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (local time) stated that the United States’ efforts to end the war could ‘form the basis for future agreements.’ He also issued a warning that Moscow would capture additional territory by force if Kyiv does not pull back, CNN reported. Putin’s warning has come nearly a week ahead of Ukraine peace plan talks. The Russian President, while addressing media in Bishkek, confirmed that the Kremlin is expecting US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his delegation to visit Moscow next week for “serious discussions”. However, he also clarified that the years-long conflict can only end after Ukrainian soldiers withdraw and move back from the territories they occupy.
“If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this through military means,” CNN reported Putin as saying.
CNN further reported that Russia occupies approximately 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory, which is recognised as part of sovereign Ukraine under international law, including all of Luhansk region, and parts of the Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Russia’s demands entail that Ukraine surrender these four regions entirely, “which it has annexed but not fully conquered”. Moscow, as reported by CNN, has made gains along the eastern Ukrainian frontline in recent weeks, especially around the city of Pokrovsk.
According to CNN, the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based conflict monitor, said on Thursday that data on Russian forces’ rate of advance indicates that “a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent.”
Notably, the Russian demand for the region includes the “fortress belt” of heavily defended towns and cities, which are considered to be crucial for Ukrainian security. Kyiv and its European allies have made it clear that territorial concessions are a red line for them, CNN reported.
With Putin’s demands, a swift breakthrough seems difficult, and this strongly indicates that Russia isn’t willing to move after US officials, including Donald Trump, touted “tremendous progress” in their efforts to end the war, CNN reported.
It is worth noting that the update follows opposition from Ukrainian and European leaders against a US-drafted, 28-point peace proposal that included major Russian suggestions. CNN reported that the initial draft featured Moscow’s demands that Ukraine shrink its military and blocked from joining NATO.
On Thursday, the Russian President stated that he expects Witkoff to visit Moscow early next week and likely to talk over the revised version of the plan. CNN quoted Putin, he has been briefed on the latest negotiations and believes the proposal could “serve as a foundation for future agreements.”
(With ANI inputs)
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