In a bold move during the Alaska summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded Ukraine’s full withdrawal from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a condition to end the ongoing war. The proposal, which includes freezing the frontline in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, has been firmly rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
What Putin Proposed
- Complete control of Donetsk and Luhansk: Russia already controls nearly all of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk.
- Frontline freeze: Putin offered to halt further advances in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia if Ukraine concedes Donbas.
- Return of minor territories: Putin suggested returning parts of Sumy and Kharkiv, which Russia only partially occupies.
- End to NATO expansion: Putin reiterated his demand to block Ukraine’s NATO membership and reshape its statehood.
Zelenskyy’s Response
- Firm rejection: Zelenskyy refused to cede any territory, calling the proposal “unserious.”
- Open to dialogue: He expressed willingness to meet Trump and possibly Putin in Washington for trilateral talks.
- Security concerns: Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s sovereignty and security must be guaranteed in any peace deal.
Global Reactions
- Trump’s stance: Urged European leaders to abandon ceasefire efforts and pursue a direct peace agreement with Russia.
- European skepticism: Leaders like Emmanuel Macron warned against trusting Putin, citing past violations of the Minsk agreements.
Strategic Implications
- Donbas remains key: The industrial region is central to Russia’s military and political goals.
- Ukraine’s fortified cities: Kramatorsk and Sloviansk remain under Kyiv’s control, heavily defended at great cost.
- Peace vs. Partition: Zelenskyy insists on no territorial compromise, while Putin pushes for a redrawn map of Ukraine.
