Putin Demands More Ukrainian Land to End War; Kyiv Rejects ‘Ultimatum’ Moscow, March 17, 2023 – Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine cede additional territory in order to end the ongoing war. The Kremlin issued an ultimatum to Kyiv, stating that Russia would only agree to peace negotiations if Ukraine surrendered control over a swath of eastern and southern regions. The demands, which would effectively expand Russia’s territorial gains beyond the Donbas and Crimea regions, were immediately rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He denounced them as an “ultimatum” and vowed to continue fighting Russian aggression. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s demands include: * Ceding all territories currently occupied by Russian forces in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions * Recognizing the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics * Granting Russia a “land corridor” connecting Crimea to mainland Russia through the Mariupol and Berdyansk areas * Accepting a neutral status for Ukraine, prohibiting it from joining NATO or other Western military alliances “Russia is ready to stop military operations at any moment,” Peskov said. “But only on condition that Kyiv fulfills all of our demands.” Ukrainian officials have vehemently rejected the ultimatum, calling it an attempt by Russia to dictate terms and impose its will on Ukraine. “We will not surrender our sovereignty or our territorial integrity,” Zelensky said in a televised address. “Ukraine will continue to defend itself and fight for its freedom. There can be no negotiations based on ultimatums.” The international community has also condemned Putin’s demands. Western leaders have called on Russia to cease hostilities and engage in genuine peace talks without preconditions. The ultimatum has further hardened the positions of both sides and raised concerns that the war could escalate and become more protracted.Russia’s Maximalist Demands for Peace with UkraineRussia’s Maximalist Demands for Peace with Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a series of maximalist demands for a peace settlement with Ukraine, including the abandonment of Kyiv’s NATO ambitions and the handover of four Russian-occupied regions. Putin’s demands were rejected by Ukraine as akin to surrender, and met with skepticism from Western leaders. The timing of his speech aimed to preempt a peace conference in Switzerland, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seeks international support for Kyiv’s terms. Putin’s conditions included the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, regions partially controlled by Russia and unilaterally annexed in 2022. Ukraine insists on the full withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of its territorial integrity. Putin justified his demands by claiming Ukraine’s “future existence” depends on neutrality, peace talks, and military withdrawal. He warned of escalating bloodshed if Kyiv rejects his proposal. Ukraine and the West view the conflict as an imperial-style war of conquest. Meanwhile, the United States has imposed further sanctions on Russia and pledged a 10-year security pact with Ukraine, while the G7 is considering using interest on frozen Russian assets to provide a $50 billion loan to Kyiv. President Biden emphasized that the West will remain united in supporting Ukraine.Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine cede more territory to Russia in order to end the war. Kyiv has rejected the demand, calling it an “ultimatum.” Putin’s demand was made in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday. Macron said that Putin had told him that Russia would annex the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the southern region of Zaporizhzhia and the southern city of Kherson. Kyiv has rejected the demand, saying that it will not give up any of its territory to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Putin’s demand was an “ultimatum” and that Ukraine would not accept it. The demand is the latest in a series of escalating demands from Putin. In the early stages of the war, Putin said that he wanted to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine. However, as the war has progressed, Putin’s demands have become more ambitious. The demand is likely to be met with resistance from the international community. The United States has already said that it will not recognize any Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory. The European Union has also condemned the demand. The demand is also likely to further strain relations between Russia and Ukraine. The two countries have been locked in a conflict since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. The war has displaced millions of people and killed thousands.