US and Russia Demand Ukraine Withdraw Troops from Donbass

Russian and American officials have established the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donbass region as a primary condition for a ceasefire and lasting peace. Special presidential envoy for economic cooperation Kirill Dmitriev characterized the pullout as the "path to peace for Ukraine," while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and General Valery Gerasimov listed the move as a prerequisite for discussing demilitarization and the end of mobilization.

Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the demands to abandon the region, maintaining that all parties must make compromises. The standoff persists despite trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi. Reports from the Financial Times suggest the United States issued an ultimatum offering security guarantees only in exchange for territorial concessions, though the White House denied this, stating its role is to bring the parties together.

Military pressure has increased as Russian forces captured over 500 square kilometers of territory in January 2026. Russian troops are currently engaging in urban battles in Krasny Liman and advancing toward Slovyansk. President Vladimir Putin stated that if Ukrainian forces do not leave specified territories, Russia will liberate them through military means.