Russia Rejects Parts of U.S. Plan to End Ukraine War
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a visit to India, stated after discussions with India Today that while dialogue is possible, certain aspects of the U.S. proposal are unacceptable.
Putin did not specify the exact points of contention, but the fate of occupied regions of Ukraine and security assurances for Kyiv remain key sticking points. He insisted that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the eastern Donbas region, including areas still under their control, or Russia will forcibly reclaim those territories.
A five-hour meeting between Putin and Steve Witkoff concluded without a final agreement. Yuri Ushakov, a senior Kremlin advisor, noted that the negotiations did not lead to a “solution or compromise,” adding that Russia’s recent battlefield successes have strengthened its position at the negotiating table.
Donald Trump stated that the negotiations after Putin’s meeting with Witkoff and Kushner, had been “reasonably good,” but cautioned against premature conclusions, emphasizing that “it takes two to tango.”
In response, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister accused Putin of “wasting the world’s time,” while the Ukrainian ambassador to Washington asserted that Ukraine does not need promises from Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that no land would be ceded and that any agreement must include robust security guarantees. He stated that the world now senses a genuine opportunity to end the war, but that this process must involve pressure on Russia.
European media outlets reported concerns among the leaders of France, Germany, and Finland regarding the U.S.-led negotiations. Germany’s Der Spiegel claimed that in a confidential phone conference, Emmanuel Macron warned of a potential “betrayal” of Ukraine by the U.S. regarding territorial issues.
The report added that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also expressed concerns about the risks facing Zelenskyy.
The Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, has resulted in Russia controlling approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Russian forces have made slow, albeit costly, advances in southeastern Ukraine in recent weeks.
