On Monday, the Kremlin reiterated that the territorial issue remains a key condition for Russia for any peace agreement with Ukraine. The statement followed weekend talks in Abu Dhabi attended by representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS that territory is "fundamental" and referred to the so-called Anchorage formula.
A source close to the Kremlin said that this was an agreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin from the August summit in Alaska, which assumes that Ukraine will hand over the entire Donbas to Russia and freeze the front lines in the east and south as a condition for a future peace agreement. Putin has long claimed that Russia will take control of the entire Donbas by force if Kyiv does not surrender it voluntarily.
However, Ukraine has repeatedly refused to give up any territory that Russia did not gain directly on the battlefield. Peskov also told RIA that Moscow views the talks in Abu Dhabi as "constructive."
Although the weekend talks ended without result, another round of negotiations is expected next weekend.
(reuters, max)