In a conversation on Sunday, Putin and Trump spoke prior to Trump’s meeting in Miami with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned that another call is scheduled to take place soon.
Peskov declined to comment on the possibility of establishing a free economic zone in Donbas or the future of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, stating it was not appropriate to do so.
When questioned about Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov’s statements regarding the decisions Kyiv needs to make about Donbas, Peskov reiterated that Ukraine should withdraw its troops from the areas it still holds.
”We are discussing the withdrawal of the regime’s armed forces from the Donbas,” Peskov said. When asked if this also pertained to the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, he refrained from providing further details.
Currently, Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, approximately 90% of Donbas, 75% of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as well as portions of the Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, according to Russian estimates.
Russia asserts that Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson are part of its territory, though most nations regard these regions as part of Ukraine.
Peskov stated that no discussions were underway regarding a call between Putin and Zelenskiy.
Peskov also echoed Trump’s concerns that Ukraine could face further territorial losses to Russia in the coming months unless Kyiv reaches an agreement.
