Russia issues ultimatum: Withdraw or risk new territorial grabs
During Friday's negotiations in Istanbul, the Russian delegation demanded that Ukrainian armed forces withdraw from the parts of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions that Russia has not captured, reports the media. Otherwise, Russia threatened to take the Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
What you need to know:
- Russia demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. This demand was presented as a condition for a ceasefire.
- If refused, Russia threatens to take the Kharkiv and Sumy regions. This is another step in the escalation of the conflict.
- Russia is prepared to continue the conflict for many years, as stated by the head of the Russian delegation during the Istanbul talks.
The Suspilne portal reported that Russia not only demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from these areas but also threatened to occupy the Kharkiv and Sumy regions if their demand is refused.
This condition was presented as essential for reaching a ceasefire. The Russian delegation emphasized that it is prepared to wage war for many years.
Russia sets conditions and issues threats
Similar information was shared earlier by Oliver Carroll, a journalist from "The Economist," on platform X. Carroll wrote that Russia would agree to a ceasefire only if Ukraine withdrew from the four "annexed" regions that Russia does not fully control. Moscow also threatened to seize the Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
Carroll also quoted Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, who stated that Russia does not want war but is ready to fight for a year, two, three, or even longer.
Medinsky reminded that Russia fought Sweden for 21 years and asked how long Ukraine is ready to fight, adding that some at the table might lose more loved ones.
Talks in Istanbul
On Friday in Istanbul, talks were held between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine, marking the first such meeting in three years. The Ukrainian delegation was led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and the Russian delegation by Vladimir Medinsky, an advisor to Vladimir Putin.
Umerov stated that during the talks, the possibility of a prisoner exchange at a ratio of 1,000 to 1,000 was discussed. There were also discussions about a ceasefire and preparations for a potential meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, according to the Ukrainska Pravda portal.
Earlier on Friday in Istanbul, there were trilateral talks between the delegations of Ukraine, the United States, and Turkey.
