US urges Putin to respect Ukraine’s military rights
The US will demand that Vladimir Putin recognize Ukraine's right to maintain its own army and defense industry, reports Bloomberg. Donald Trump is also expected to insist that Moscow return the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Ukraine, ensure access to the Dnieper, and return territories occupied by Russia in the Kharkiv region.
According to the agency, US special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to discuss this issue during the next meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Moscow's agreement for Ukraine to maintain a well-equipped and sizable army — a demand both Kyiv and European allies support — would mean that Putin would have to abandon one of the main objectives of this war, which was the demilitarization of Ukraine.
"It’s a sign that the Trump administration is seeking some concessions from the Kremlin, as well as Ukraine, as it tries to end a war that’s now into its fourth year. Critics have thus far viewed the US proposals as tilted toward Russia, including the Trump administration’s insistence that Ukraine give up its aspirations to join the NATO military alliance," Bloomberg comments.
According to the report, the Trump administration is also demanding that Moscow return the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which the Russians took over at the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. This facility would then be placed under American control and used to supply both sides of the conflict, sources claim. They add that the details of these plans have not yet been finalized and may change.
Spokespeople for the US National Security Council, the State Department, or Witkoff himself have not yet provided comments.
The United States also wants to guarantee Ukraine access to the Dnieper River and the return of territories occupied by Russia in the Kharkiv region. Meanwhile, Putin demands that Kyiv recognize the entire area of the Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson regions, even though Russia does not have full control over them.
