Description: Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to unofficial sources, have outlined the latest conditions for reaching a potential peace agreement with Ukraine. In the latest proposal, Putin reportedly demanded that Ukraine cede the entirety of the Donbas region, which is comprised of Donetsk and Luhansk, not allow Western troops on its territory in any capacity and denounce all ambitions to join NATO. The demands arrive after Russia has gradually diminished expectations for an early Putin – Zelensky summit, after both leaders met the American President separately earlier this month. Officials from both countries exchanged accusations of actively sabotaging the US – led peace efforts over the weekend, with Russia’s FM, Sergey Lavrov, stating that a leaders meeting is not out of the question, however, adequate conditions for the meeting are yet to be established on a bilateral level. Zelensky stated that Russia consistently avoided resolving the war through unrealistic demands and called on Ukraine’s western partners to enhance economic pressure through renewed sanctions. Trump stated that in two weeks’ time, the US would decide on further steps regarding the war.
Impact: The demands made by the Russia President fall under the purview of previous conditions outlined by Russia and intensify the pressure on Ukraine to agree towards ceding territory as part of a broader peace agreement. The effect from the two summits Trump organized with both leaders were quickly diminished as both countries publicly offered no statements regarding concrete steps going forwards or any form of intent for compromise. Donbas as the crucial region in Russia’s peace demands represents a disputed sticking point on both sides as Ukraine’s main defensive belt is located in the region which could repel future Russian invasion, while Russia considers it as one of the focal points for instigating the invasion in 2022, accusing Ukraine of targeting and oppressing Russian civilians in Donetsk and Luhansk. The question of Ukraine’s NATO membership and foreign troop deployment officially remains an open subject of discussion, even though the realistic potential for both conditions happening is very low. The war, despite experiencing an intense diplomatic campaign, remains in its previous state of affairs with no immediate potential for reaching some sort of diplomatic consensus.