Russia demands Finland’s withdrawal from NATO, control over Donbas and "demilitarization" of Odesa and Mykolaiv – Bild
Russia has put forward conditions for a "new European security order" during unofficial talks on ending the war: Finland's withdrawal from NATO, the Alliance giving up bases in the Baltic states, the transfer of all of Donbas to Russia and the "demilitarization" of the ports of Odesa and Mykolaiv.
German newspaper Bild reported this, according to Censor.NET.
What Moscow demands regarding Ukraine
According to Bild, Russian representatives put forward these conditions during unofficial talks on ending the war. They were also reportedly presented to European representatives during a meeting in Abu Dhabi. The newspaper does not identify its sources.
Moscow proposes retaining the occupied territories of Ukraine and obtaining all of Donbas, including the parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by Kyiv.
- Under the plan, Ukraine would adopt non-aligned status and renounce NATO membership. However, EU membership is not ruled out. The ports of Odesa and Mykolaiv would be "demilitarized" so that Ukraine could not use them as naval bases. The proposal also includes agreements on freedom of navigation in the Black and Baltic seas.
Finland, the Baltic states and Belarus
The Russian plan calls for no NATO military bases to be stationed in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania, and for Finland to withdraw from the Alliance.
In return, according to the newspaper, Russia proposes withdrawing nuclear weapons from Belarus and refraining from deploying intermediate-range missiles there.
Conditions regarding Moldova
Moscow's demands also concern Moldova. Russia proposes turning it into a federal republic comprising Moldova itself, the autonomous region of Gagauzia and unrecognized Transnistria. If the country joins the European Union, Transnistria and Gagauzia would have to be granted the right to hold independence referendums.
In addition, according to Bild, Moscow is prepared to withdraw its troops from Transnistria.
Bild stresses that this is only one of the proposals being discussed in unofficial negotiating circles. Several groups of intermediaries, including some with military ties, are operating in parallel and competing with one another. It remains unclear whether Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has endorsed this particular plan.
Kremlin's response
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that Russia had not demanded the withdrawal of any countries from NATO during the talks. Responding to a question from an RBC correspondent, he said: "No, that was definitely not discussed."
Peskov did not comment on the other points in the report, including the conditions concerning Donbas, the ports, the Baltic states and Moldova.
Finland's response
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen described Russia's demand to reduce NATO's presence in countries bordering Russia as a test of US and European resolve during the talks. "Even suggesting such things is simply outrageous. Russia knows this," he said.
