Financial Times has reported on the details of US-Ukrainian negotiations. According to sources, the main US condition for providing security guarantees to Ukraine remains the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from non-occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The United States underscores it can only offer enhanced military support if this condition is met, and is willing to increase weapon supplies to the Ukrainian army should the Armed Forces of Ukraine retreat from these areas still under Ukraine’s control.
The withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas is also the principal demand, reiterated publicly, by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin, who stress that only such an action can open the path to ending the Russia-Ukraine war and reaching a peace agreement.
In his analysis, Vitaly Portnikov questions whether this condition is truly key to ending the war. He notes Donetsk region is a fortress for Ukraine and that Russia seeks to avoid prolonged and costly battles there. Additionally, the withdrawal could cause political destabilization in Ukraine and may become a pretext for further Russian territorial claims.
Portnikov draws a parallel with Armenia, where signing a peace declaration led to political instability. He argues Russia’s similar strategy towards Ukraine aims to destabilize the country and influence US policy towards accepting Russian logic and blaming Kyiv for impeding peace.
He concludes that Russia aims to achieve two goals: sow discord within Ukrainian society and shift the US position to hold Kyiv, rather than Moscow, accountable for the ongoing conflict. Such demands serve as tools of political pressure.