Kyiv – As international efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine continue, a new point of contention has emerged between Kyiv and Washington. Sources report the United States is urging Ukraine to cede control of the Donbas region – an area Russia has consistently sought to control – as a potential condition for peace negotiations. This development, revealed Friday, signals a possible shift in U.S. strategy and raises questions about the path forward in the nearly three-year-old war.
2025/12/15 20:34（12/15 21:13 更新）
Kyiv – The United States is reportedly pressing Ukraine to cede control of the Donbas region – encompassing the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts – as a condition for peace negotiations with Russia, according to a source familiar with the ongoing diplomatic process.
The development, revealed December 15, comes as international efforts to end the conflict intensify and highlights a potentially significant divergence in negotiating positions. The official stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants territory,” and that the U.S. is now requesting Ukraine to “withdraw” from these areas, a demand Kyiv currently rejects.
“Surprisingly, the Americans have taken Russia’s side on this issue,” the source added. This stance could complicate already fragile peace talks and raises questions about the U.S.’s long-term strategy in the region.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials confirmed that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is continuing discussions with U.S. negotiators in Berlin on December 15, marking the second day of talks. These meetings are taking place as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion, gain momentum.
The source indicated that Zelenskyy held more than five hours of closed-door discussions on December 14 with Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, and Jared Kushner, the former president’s son-in-law. (Compiled by Lin Yi-feng) 1141215
中央社「一手新聞」 app
本網站之文字、圖片及影音，非經授權，不得轉載、公開播送或公開傳輸及利用。
