Russia is ready to withdraw from these occupied areas of Ukraine

Russia can be ready to withdraw from small areas occupied by its troops in the Sumski and Kharkiv regions in Ukraine in exchange for Donbas, i.e. Donetsk and Lugansk Districts – Reutert's agency said on Sunday, citing sources. Moscow is also to demand the formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.

Currently, the Russian troops control about 440 km of Sumski and Kharkiv, lying in the north -eastern part of Ukraine – according to Ukrainian websites monitoring the course of activities on the front. The entire area of these two regions is over 55,000 km kw.

As previously informed by various media, Russian leader Vladimir Putin demanded in the Friday conversation with US President Donald Trump in Alaska the takeover of the whole of Donbass in eastern Ukraine by Russia – that is, Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

The area of these two regions, rich in deposits of rare lands, is about 53 thousand. KM Ukraine currently controls only 6.6 thousand. km sq., but in this area there are key centers of Ukrainian defense – Kramatorsk and Słowiansk.

According to the British newspaper, Financial Times, Putin said that – in exchange for Donbas – he would freeze the front line in the Kherson and Zaporoskie districts, located in the south of Ukraine.

The interviewees of the Reuters agency said that Russia is also demanding the formal recognition of its sovereignty over Crimea, occupied by Moscow since 2014.

It is not clear whether the Russian side is about recognition of the US or other Western countries and Ukraine, which have so far rejected this possibility.

Another demand of the Russians is to abolish Western sanctions. Here, however, the sources are not sure whether it is only about restrictions imposed by Washington or also about European sanctions.

Russia did not withdraw from its objection so that Ukraine could become a member of NATO, although – according to sources – Putin seemed to express openness to the possibility for Ukraine to receive some kind of security guarantees. (PAP)

MWS/ Szm/