- President Putin insists Ukrainian troops must leave Donbas or Russia will seize the region by force.
- Zelensky refuses to give up territory as peace talks involving Trump’s envoys continue.
- Kremlin says no compromise was reached during Moscow meetings with US negotiators.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has again warned that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the eastern Donbas region if they want peace.
He told India Today that Russia would not accept any deal that allows Ukraine to remain in parts of the region still outside Moscow’s control.
“Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories,” Putin said.
Moscow claims it already controls about 85 per cent of Donbas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly refused to hand over any territory.
Putin’s comments follow fresh talks in Moscow between Kremlin officials and a team sent by former US President Donald Trump.
Trump said the discussions were “reasonably good” but noted that any final deal would need approval from both sides.
The Kremlin confirmed it is waiting for Washington’s feedback.
However, no call between Trump and Putin has been planned, and there is no new meeting date for Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff.
The original US peace proposal suggested putting Ukrainian-controlled parts of Donbas under Russia’s de facto control.
The team led by Witkoff presented an updated version during Tuesday’s meeting.
Putin said he had not seen the revised plan before meeting Witkoff and Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner, forcing the two sides to go through the document point by point.
“At times we said that yes, we can discuss this, but to that we can’t agree,” Putin said.
The sticking points were not listed publicly, but negotiators on both sides say the unresolved issues include: the status of Ukrainian territory captured by Russian forces, security guarantees for Ukraine
Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said there was “no compromise” after the talks and claimed Russia’s battlefield gains had strengthened its hand.
Kyiv maintains that Moscow is delaying peace efforts to seize more land.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybhia dismissed Putin’s remarks, saying the Russian leader was “wasting the world’s time.”
Zelensky said negotiations can only succeed if there is global pressure on Moscow.
He added that Ukrainian negotiators recently won important changes to the original US peace plan during a separate meeting in Geneva on 23 November.
Growing concern has emerged in Europe over the direction of the US-led talks.
Germany’s Der Spiegel reported that it obtained a transcript of a conference call in which European leaders warned that Ukraine could be left exposed.
French President Emmanuel Macron allegedly said:
“There is a possibility that the US will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Zelensky to be careful, reportedly telling him:
“They are playing games, both with you and with us.”
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb added:
“We mustn’t leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys.”
With Moscow holding a firm line on Donbas, Washington reviewing its next move, and Europe expressing mistrust, the path to any peace agreement remains unclear.
For now, Ukraine insists on full security guarantees, while Russia demands territorial concessions, leaving both sides far apart despite ongoing negotiations.
