Kremlin Demands Ukrainian Withdrawal From Occupied Regions as Condition for Peace

Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the war against Ukraine could end “immediately” if Ukrainian troops withdraw from four regions that Russia has included in its constitution.

Speaking in an interview with Le Point on April 23, Peskov reiterated Russia’s longstanding demands, stating, “We want to achieve our goals. Peacefully or militarily.”

According to Peskov, Russia sees Ukraine’s potential NATO membership as a direct threat to its security. As a result, Moscow insists that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, which are currently under partial Russian control.

Russia’s actions are widely considered unlawful under international law, specifically the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the acquisition of territory by force.

“We need a neutral status for Ukraine and recognition of the reality for the territories,” Peskov said. He emphasized that Russia’s constitution now enshrines the four regions, asserting that any move by Ukraine to challenge Russia’s control would be unacceptable.

“If Ukraine withdraws its troops from these four regions, the military operations will cease instantly,” he added.

Peskov also stated that Russia does not demand the resignation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but he noted that any documents signed by Zelenskyy could be contested due to the “illegitimacy” of his leadership in Moscow’s view.

In related news, US President Donald Trump criticized Zelenskyy in a Truth Social post, calling Zelenskyy’s stance “very harmful” to peace negotiations, asserting that Crimea was lost to Russia years ago under former US President Barack Obama.

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