Russia Insists on Ukraine Troop Withdrawal for 30-Day Ceasefire
Moscow demands Ukrainian armed forces to retreat from seized regions for a temporary truce to be established.
Russia has issued a bold demand for a comprehensive ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict: the immediate withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territories Moscow claims. According to a three-page document published by state-owned Russian news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti, this withdrawal is a precondition for a 30-day truce to take effect in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, regions controversially claimed by Moscow [1][2].
The document outlines Russia's ambitious conditions for ending the conflict that began in 2022. Among these demands are:
- Recognition of the seized territories and the Crimean Peninsula as Russian land by the international community [2].
- The lifting of all economic sanctions against Russia [2].
- Ukraine's commitment to maintaining neutrality and refraining from joining NATO [2].
- A halt in Western arms deliveries and intelligence sharing [2].
- Limiting the size of Ukraine's military [2].
- Ukraine waiving any claims for reparations from Russia [2].
- The release of all alleged Russian "political prisoners" [2].
- The disbandment of Ukrainian nationalist military formations [2].
Historically, Kyiv has rejected these exact demands multiple times [1].
Background Check
This latest Russian demand follows a pattern of escalating tensions over various territorial claims, military restrictions, and political requirements, reflecting Moscow's strategy of "denazification" and undermining Ukraine's sovereignty.
Territorial Claims
- Russia demands that Ukraine withdraw from regions it deems its own, including the annexed territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson [1][2].
- Russia also seeks international recognition of the territories it has occupied, including Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014 [2].
Military Restrictions
- Russia insists on banning Western arm sales and intelligence sharing [2].
- It also demands Ukraine refrains from engaging in sabotage or subversive activities against Russia [2].
Political Requirements
- Russia allegedly calls for Ukraine to elect a new government before any peace agreement can be signed [1].
- Ukraine is also expected to lift martial law and hold elections before any peace deal can be finalized [2].
Additional Demands
- While economic sanctions are not explicitly mentioned in the latest demands, Russia's broader strategy involves influencing international support for Ukraine and weakening its economy and military defense capabilities.
- The process for achieving a ceasefire includes a brief general ceasefire to recover bodies from the battlefield, followed by a longer-term ceasefire agreement [1].
Sources:1. ntv.de2. AFP
- The community policy might include discussions about the international recognition of territories occupied by Russia, such as Crimea and the disputed regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
- In the context of political news, this latest Russian demand for a ceasefire in Ukraine could be linked to ongoing wars and conflicts, as well as regional politics, given Russia's insistence on Ukraine's compliance with its extensive list of conditions, which also cover employment policy, such as limiting the size of Ukraine's military and banning Western arm sales.
