Putin says Ukraine must surrender territory for peace in sign Moscow won’t budge on key demands
Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraine must give up territory for a peace deal to be possible, but indicated that a draft plan proposed by the US could form the “basis” of an agreement to end the war.
In a sign that Moscow remains unlikely to budge on its maximalist demands, the Russian president said that Ukrainian troops must lay down their weapons and give up on territories claimed by Russia for a peace deal to be possible.
His comments came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian and US delegations would meet later this week for further talks on security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a peace deal – a key sticking point in negotiations so far. Separately, US special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia early next week.
Mr Zelensky wants to draw a red line on giving up Ukraine’s sovereign territory during the next phase of peace talks, the Atlantic reported on Thursday, following an interview with his top negotiator. Andriy Yermak was adamant after a long week of discussions that “as long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory”, a sign Kyiv will not fold or appease Russian aggression.
“Not a single sane person today would sign a document to give up territory,” he said.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin said that Russia would continue its aggression in Ukraine “until the last Ukrainian dies” if necessary to get what he wants.
“Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the territories they hold, and then the fighting will cease. If they don’t leave, then we shall achieve this by force. That’s it,” he said.
The Russian president was speaking for the first time since a flurry of diplomatic activity involving Moscow, Kyiv and the US in the past week.
He said the 28-point peace plan drafted by Washington showed that the US was listening to Russia’s arguments, but that some issues still need attention. Mr Witkoff is expected to discuss the futures of Crimea and the Donbas with Russian officials next week.
Meanwhile, Putin on Thursday claimed the Russian army had surrounded the embattled city of Pokrovsk – although the claim could not be independently verified. The city is a key transport hub, and its capture would pave a clear path to the two biggest remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in the Donetsk region, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Kyiv’s top general said Ukraine was pushing back hard and that fighting was still raging in the city centre. Both sides will be desperately keen to take the upper hand for leverage in future negotiations.
The future of claimed territories remains a point of contention in negotiations. Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out handing over what it still holds of the Donbas, and is constitutionally unable to give it up.
Putin said any agreement would still be illegal as Russia does not recognise the Kyiv administration. It was therefore important, he said, to ensure any agreement was recognised by the international community, and that it recognised Russian gains in Ukraine.
A draft of a plan floated by the US and broadly supported by Russia suggested Washington could recognise the regions as de facto Russian, even if not legally.
