Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty
Topics: Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, Russia, Ukraine, Politics, World News
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, Russia, Ukraine, Politics, World News
Vladimir Putin is said to have made his intentions clear when it comes to ending Russia's war with Ukraine.
Putin ordered Russian troops to invade parts of Ukraine in February 2022 and, while there have been many efforts to stop the bloodshed, a peace deal has yet to be met by Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Donald Trump has been mediating between the two countries and met with Putin for the first time in years last week to discuss how the war can be ended. Then, just a few days later, Zelenskyy jetted to the White House to also meet with Trump alongside numerous other European leaders.
Following his meeting with Putin, Trump took to Truth Social to share how Ukraine can supposedly end the conflict 'immediately'.
Advert
"President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight," Trump wrote online.
"Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!"
It's clear Zelenskyy doesn't want to give up Crimea - and he couldn't do so even if he wanted to.
Now Russia is said to have formally issued its demands, according to sources who spoke to Reuters.
Putin reportedly wants Ukraine to stop seeking NATO membership, he does not want Western troops on Russian soil, and he wants Ukraine to completely withdraw from the parts of the Donbas that Russia still controls.
In return for giving up Donbas, Moscow would halt the current front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, Reuters reports.
Russia controls about 88 percent of the Donbas and 73 percent of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
The news of Putin's alleged demands comes shortly after NATO defense chiefs held a virtual meeting with Ukraine to discuss security guarantees.
32 defence chiefs from across the alliance were part of the online 'candid' discussions.
Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Italian admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, said the meeting went 'great'.
He tweeted: "Great, candid discussion among #NATO Chiefs of Defence, today. And excellent update on the security environment from our new SACEUR, his first with us.
"I thanked everyone for their always proactive participation in these meetings: we are united, and that unity was truly tangible today, as always."
Dragone added: "On #Ukraine, we confirmed our support. Priority continues to be a just, credible and durable peace."