Putin proposes cease-fire on strict conditions
Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed freezing the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions during negotiations with Donald Trump, on the condition that the Ukrainian army withdraws from the entire Donetsk region, according to the Financial Times (FT), as cited by the BBC News.
This wasn't the only condition: other of Putin's main demands, related to "eliminating the root causes" of the conflict, would also need to be met, according to the same source.
According to the Kremlin, the main causes include the political structure that has taken shape in Ukraine since 2014, its desire for integration into the European Union and NATO, and the strengthening of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
On Saturday, Trump relayed this proposal during phone calls with the president of Ukraine and European leaders.
Russia occupies approximately 70% of the Donetsk region's territory, but the remaining territory contains fortified areas and important logistical hubs.
According to Nastoiashee Vremea, citing FT sources familiar with Zelenskyy's position, the Ukrainian president won’t agree to cede Donetsk but is willing to discuss the territorial issue in a meeting with Trump at the White House on August 18.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
