Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin expressed his intention to seize Donbas by the end of the year, information relayed during discussions with Western representatives. This was conveyed to American officials and made public by Zelensky and others involved.
Simultaneously, US Ambassador to the UN, Whitaker, indicated that Ukraine had allegedly agreed to halt the war along the line of contact, subject to guarantees for Russian speakers, the Orthodox Church, and the freezing of the conflict line. However, Russia has not responded officially or given any guarantees while continuing to strike civilian targets, as seen in Yarova, where dozens of pensioners were killed.
Western sources claim that Russia received economic and political support from China to influence the situation and seek relaxation of sanctions. Ongoing discussions include economic and security guarantees for Ukraine: EU membership, large-scale financial aid, and the placement of warehouses on the NATO border.
At the same time, occupied territories face a humanitarian crisis with trash collection issues, lack of clean water, and risks of infectious disease outbreaks. Experts note that Russia is failing to manage these regions, leading to urban decline and increasing hazards for residents.
Russia is demanding the demilitarization of Ukraine and a ban on Western weapons, while Ukraine insists on real security guarantees. Europe remains hesitant on secondary sanctions against China and India, worried about the reaction from the US and losing support.
Boris Johnson proposed that the West should permit Ukraine to use Western missiles against Russian military targets to force Moscow into real negotiations and halt escalation.
Thus, the negotiation process is at a stage of tough debate: Ukraine demands clear security, financial, and international guarantees, while Russia insists on its conditions and continues hostilities.
Against this backdrop, the situation in Donbas is deteriorating, with ongoing attacks on civilians and a critical humanitarian situation. The West and Ukraine are coordinating responses and analyzing new proposals for resolving the conflict.
