Putin's demand for Ukraine to withdraw troops from uninhabited areas of the Donetsk region is the main point highlighted in reports on the position of the Russian leader. This is emphasized in the report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), according to 'Glavkom'.
"The only element of Putin's position, mentioned in all reports, is his constant demand for Ukraine to withdraw troops from uninhabited areas of the Donetsk region," analysts note.
Experts explain that fulfilling this demand would lead to Ukraine abandoning the 'fortress belt' – a defensive line created back in 2014 in the Donetsk region.
The fortress belt and the situation in eastern Ukraine
The "fortress belt" of Ukraine slowed down Russia's advance in the Donetsk region in 2014 and 2022, and it still hinders Russia's attempts to seize the remnants of the region in 2025. The publication from Donetsk suggests that a ceasefire without guarantees of further peaceful settlement would provide Russian troops with ideal conditions for further attacks, avoiding a prolonged and bloody conflict,” the message states.
Summary:
Vladimir Putin's key demand regarding Ukraine is the withdrawal of troops from uninhabited areas of the Donetsk region. This demand is of strategic importance for both sides of the conflict and has the potential to influence the further development of the situation in eastern Ukraine.