Russian sources have disclosed Vladimir Putin’s prerequisites for ending the conflict in Ukraine, which include:
- A written commitment from Western leaders to halt NATO’s expansion eastward, meaning the formal exclusion of membership for Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and other former Soviet republics.
- The lifting of certain sanctions on Russia and addressing the issue of its assets that are frozen in the West
- Ukraine maintaining a neutral status
- Protection for Ukraine’s Russian-speaking population
- All four regions in eastern Ukraine becoming part of Russia
President Zelenskyy remains confident that the US will not support the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the territories currently under Ukrainian control, namely the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson regions, which are claimed by the Russian Federation.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that a new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine would be announced shortly, indicating that Russia is finalizing its version of the memorandum.
Zelenskyy, for his part, emphasized that he is prepared for a meeting with the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and the US in any format.