Kremlin warns Ukraine of further territorial losses following Trump-Putin call
The Kremlin stated on Monday that Ukraine must withdraw its troops from the remaining parts of the Donbas region under its control if it seeks peace. Moscow warned that failure to reach an agreement could result in Kyiv losing even more territory.
This statement follows a phone call on Sunday, December 28, between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The discussion took place just before Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Miami.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that another call between the Russian and U.S. leaders is planned for the "very near future."
Territorial demands and the Donbas deadlock
When asked about the conditions for a ceasefire, Peskov reiterated that Ukraine must pull its forces out of the Donbas. "We are talking about the withdrawal of forces from the Donbas," Peskov told reporters.
He declined to provide specifics on whether these demands extend to the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Currently, Russia claims these areas as part of its federation, a move rejected by most of the international community.
Russia currently controls approximately one-fifth of Ukraine. This includes Crimea, annexed in 2014, roughly 90% of the Donbas, and 75% of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
Diplomatic pressure and the Trump factor
The Kremlin’s warning aligns with recent comments made by Donald Trump. The U.S. president suggested that Ukraine could face further territorial losses in the coming months without a settlement.
Following his meeting with Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago, Trump remarked that negotiations are "very close, maybe very, very close" to a deal. However, he acknowledged that the status of the Donbas remains the most difficult unresolved issue.
While progress was reported on security guarantees for Ukraine, the Kremlin remains firm. Peskov noted that there are currently no plans for a direct conversation between Putin and Zelensky.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
