Russia-Ukraine: Moscow Demands Kiev Concede More Territory – The Terms

Russian negotiators at peace talks in Istanbul have demanded that Ukraine withdraw its forces from all contested regions before any ceasefire agreement can be reached. This request, along with others cited by a Ukrainian official during Friday’s (16.05.2025) negotiations, exceeds the terms of a peace agreement plan proposed last month by the U.S., following consultations with Moscow. The direct talks in Istanbul mark the first such contact between the warring parties in three years. A Ukrainian source described the Russian demands as ‘unsustainable’ without going into specifics. During a press briefing today, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov avoided commenting on the reported terms, insisting that negotiations should remain confidential. According to an unnamed Ukrainian official who disclosed details of the talks, Russia has proposed the following conditions for a peace agreement: the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Kherson, and Luhansk regions; international recognition of five Ukrainian territories—Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia—as Russian; Ukraine becoming a neutral state without weapons of mass destruction or foreign military presence; and all sides waiving claims for war reparations. These terms diverge significantly from the U.S. proposal.