On Wednesday, May 13, the Kremlin called for Ukraine to withdraw its armed forces from the Donbass and the territories claimed by Russia to pave the way for significant peace negotiations. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, stated that President Volodymyr Zelensky must order Ukrainian troops to leave the areas to open a ‘corridor’ for talks.
Peskov emphasized that the war could be stopped ‘at any time’ if Kyiv accepts Moscow’s demands. These conditions include the handover of territories in the Donbass, which Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Peskov also noted that Russia has yet to receive an official response from the United States regarding the recent tests of the Sarmat intercontinental missile system.
The Kremlin’s recent statements follow Vladimir Putin’s claim that the war in Ukraine is ‘heading towards its end,’ made during the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. However, Peskov admitted that there are still no concrete details regarding a possible settlement.
