The Kremlin has issued a new, uncompromising demand for signing a peace treaty: the international community must officially recognize the Donbas as Russian territory.
According to "Hvylya", the Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported the development, citing a Western source on the sidelines of negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
Today, February 5, marks the second day of trilateral talks in the UAE between Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation. Sources indicate that in addition to Moscow's territorial claims, parties are discussing economic frameworks, ceasefire mechanisms, and parameters for monitoring compliance.
Official Kyiv and its Western partners have yet to comment on the ultimatum. However, the region's status remains the primary sticking point in the talks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the status of the Donetsk region has become the "only remaining item" in the negotiations that requires a resolution.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has floated a compromise option — the creation of a special economic zone in the Donbas.
For Vladimir Putin, the capture of the Donbas remains a top priority 11 years into the war, as the Kremlin seeks to secure a "victory" of any kind.