Egypt Daily News – Two informed sources told Reuters on Thursday that Russia’s conditions had been presented the United States with a list of demands for agreeing to a deal that would end its war on Ukraine and reset relations with Washington.
The exact details of Russia’s demands remain unclear, as does whether Moscow is willing to engage in peace talks with Kyiv before accepting them. The sources stated that Russian and American officials have discussed the conditions through both in-person and virtual meetings over the past three weeks.
While Russia has not disclosed all details publicly, key reported conditions include:
- Recognition of Territorial Changes: Moscow insists on international recognition of the territories it has annexed from Ukraine, including Crimea and the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
- Neutrality of Ukraine: Russia demands that Ukraine remain a neutral state and refrain from joining NATO or any Western military alliances.
- Lifting of Sanctions: Moscow seeks the removal of Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to the war.
- Demilitarization and Denazification: Russia has previously stated that Ukraine must limit its military capabilities and remove elements that Moscow labels as extremist or nationalist.
- Security Guarantees: Russia wants security guarantees that NATO will not expand further eastward, posing a perceived threat to its borders.
In recent years, Russia has also demanded that the United States and NATO address what it calls the “root causes” of the war, including the eastward expansion of the alliance.
U.S. President Donald Trump is awaiting a decision from Putin on whether he will agree to a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday that he would accept as a first step toward peace talks.
Putin’s commitment to a potential ceasefire agreement remains uncertain, and its details have yet to be finalized.
Some U.S. officials, lawmakers, and experts fear that Putin, a former KGB officer, could use the ceasefire to intensify what they describe as an effort to sow division between the United States, Ukraine, and Europe, thereby undermining any negotiations.
The Russian embassy in Washington and the White House have yet to respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Experts suggest that Russia’s demands are likely aimed not only at shaping a final agreement with Ukraine but also at laying the groundwork for broader agreements with its Western adversaries.
