Putin issues ultimatum: Russia's demands on Ukraine's territories
Vladimir Putin has demanded that Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories be recognised, threatening to attack Odessa if his demands are not met, reports "Kommersant".
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has issued an ultimatum regarding the recognition of the annexation of Ukrainian territories currently controlled by Moscow. According to the Russian newspaper "Kommersant", if these demands are not satisfied, Russia may target military actions towards Odessa. The Odessa region, located in southern Ukraine, remains outside the control of Russian armed forces.
During negotiations about the armed conflict, sources for "Kommersant" revealed that Moscow does not intend to return to Ukraine the territories currently under Russian control. Russia may also demand that Crimea, Sevastopol, and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions be recognised as part of Russia.
It is alleged that Putin raised these issues during a closed part of a business conference before his conversation with Donald Trump. He reportedly said, as quoted by "Kommersant"'s sources, "If this happens in the near future, Russia will not claim rights to Odessa and other territories that currently belong to Ukraine."
The situation in southern Ukraine
Russia currently controls parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, yet in the autumn of 2022, it announced the annexation of these entire regions, as well as the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Crimea, which is part of Ukraine, was annexed by Russia in 2014. Although the Odessa region is not controlled by the Russian army, the port city of Odessa has been targeted with shelling and bombing by Russian forces since the beginning of the invasion.
In a statement from the White House following the talks, it was announced that the leaders have agreed to a ceasefire. This will include stopping attacks on infrastructure and energy installations and initiating negotiations on further steps towards peace.
American Eurasian expert Andrew D'Anieri pointed out that the American leader did not agree to the Kremlin’s "maximalist demands" concerning the demilitarisation of Ukraine, halting military and intelligence assistance, and lifting sanctions against Moscow.
