photo. kremlin.ru, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0The Washington Post announces that Vladimir Putin, during a telephone conversation with Donald Trump, demanded that Ukraine quit key territory. This would importantly weaken the country, but besides hinder the accomplishment of peace.
Vladimir Putin had a conversation with the president of the United States during which the subject of the war in Ukraine was raised. The Russian dictator demanded that Kiev give full control of Donetsk, which is an crucial region in the east part of the country.
That would be the main condition for ending the war. Putin has been unsuccessfully trying to get Donetsk for 11 years – the forces there repeatedly resisted attacks. This area is considered to be a key barrier against the fast Russian march towards the capital.
Trump reaction
Officials acquainted with the conversation claimed that Trump's concentration on Donetsk indicated that he was not withdrawing from erstwhile demands that led to the conflict to an impasse. The Russians have claimed the rights to part of this region since 2014.
Trump has so far not commented on Putin's demands, but he besides did not support this in his statement, which he issued after a Friday gathering with Volodymyr Zelenski in the White House. In the coming weeks, the president of the United States plans to meet Putin in Hungary.
