WP received list of Russia’s demands at talks in Riyadh: Recognition of occupied territories, change of government in Kyiv and absence of NATO peacekeepers
The European Intelligence Service has gained access to a document outlining Russia's position on ending the war in Ukraine.
This is reported by The Washington Post, Censor.NET informs.
The war cannot be ended in "100 days"
The document rejects President Donald Trump's previous plans to conclude a peace agreement within 100 days as unrealistic.
In contrast, the Russians argue that the Ukrainian crisis cannot be resolved before 2026.
There can be no European peacekeepers in Ukraine
The document also rejects any plan to deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine, as some European countries have suggested.
The presence of any peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine is also rejected as "absolutely unnecessary", as any force would be under "serious Western influence", and US plans to continue arming Ukraine after any peace agreement are "absolutely unacceptable", as is maintaining the Ukrainian army at its current level of 1 million men.
Russia demands recognition of occupied territories
The document demands that Russia's sovereignty over the seized territories be recognised. In addition, it demands further fragmentation (of Ukraine - Ed.) by creating a buffer zone in northeastern Ukraine on the border with Russian regions such as Bryansk and Belgorod, as well as a demilitarised zone in southern Ukraine near Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.
The government in Kyiv needs to be changed
The document also refers to the need for a "complete dismantling" of the current Ukrainian government.
The document also dismisses any potential political concessions by Ukraine - such as Kyiv's rejection of NATO membership and holding elections that allow pro-Russian parties - as not being far-reaching enough
"In reality, the current Kyiv regime cannot be changed from inside the country. Its complete dismantling is needed," the report says.
At the same time, the Russians threaten that even this type of settlement is not enough, and that without official recognition of Russian sovereignty over the occupied region, it is "highly likely" that the armed conflict will resume in the medium term, "for example, after the next change of administration in the United States".
The publication notes that the document was prepared by a think tank that works closely with the FSB's Fifth Service, the unit in charge of operations in Ukraine, a week before the talks between Russia and the United States in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 18 February.
Meeting of the US and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia
As a reminder, on 12 February 2025, Trump said that his meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was likely to take place in Saudi Arabia.
Trump also said that a meeting between representatives of Ukraine, the United States and Russia would take place in Saudi Arabia next week.
On 14 February, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced that the Kingdom was ready to host a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
On 18 February, delegations from the US and Russia met in Saudi Arabia.
Fox News reported that Russia and the United States are proposing a three-stage peace plan, including a ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, and then a final agreement.
