By: The Trek News Desk
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a fresh warning to Kyiv, insisting that Ukrainian forces must pull out of the eastern Donbas region or face a full Russian offensive to seize it. Speaking to the media, Putin said there is “no room for compromise” on the territorial question.
Moscow claims control over roughly 85% of Donbas, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that his government will not surrender any land under any circumstances.
Tension Builds as Trump Pushes New Peace Initiative
Putin’s remarks come at a sensitive moment, coinciding with U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed push for a peace plan. Trump said his envoys returned from Moscow optimistic that Putin “wants to end the war.”
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to meet Ukraine’s negotiating team in Florida following consultations in the Kremlin. Trump described the Moscow talks as “pretty good,” but cautioned that meaningful progress would require agreement from both sides.
An earlier version of the U.S. peace proposal reportedly transferred Ukrainian-held portions of Donbas into de facto Russian control. Witkoff’s team, however, brought a revised draft to Moscow.
Putin confirmed he had not reviewed the modified plan before the meeting, forcing negotiators to “go through every point,” and acknowledged that “several elements are unacceptable to Russia.”
Moscow: “No Deal in Sight”
Russia’s senior foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said there is still “no compromise” on any major issue. The Kremlin maintains that recent gains on the battlefield have strengthened Russia’s negotiating position.
Ukraine, meanwhile, accuses Moscow of prolonging talks to capture more territory.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticised Putin’s behaviour after the Kremlin meeting, saying the Russian president is “wasting the world’s time.”
Zelensky: “Peace Requires Pressure on Russia”
Zelensky said the global community now sees “a genuine opening for peace,” but insisted that only continued pressure on Moscow can turn that opportunity into reality.
Ukraine claims it pushed through significant changes to the American proposal during meetings with U.S. officials in Geneva on 23 November. Washington and Kyiv later issued a joint statement saying they had developed an “updated and refined peace framework,” though details remain confidential.
European negotiators were also in Geneva at the time, holding separate discussions with both the U.S. and Ukrainian teams.
U.S.: “Working to Halt the Bloodshed”
The White House said Secretary Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and the national security team “are working tirelessly to stop the killing between Russia and Ukraine.”
According to U.S. officials, the aim is to create a durable peace plan built on the concerns of both sides.
War Context
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and now controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. In recent weeks, Russian forces have continued slow advances in the southeast despite suffering substantial combat casualties.
Source: News Agencies
