Putin Maintains Ukraine Surrender Demand After Trump Call Amid Ceasefire Rejection

Recent diplomatic engagements between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States reveal stark contrasts in their stances on resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly demanded Ukraine's full territorial concessions, including the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson regions, and Crimea, as preconditions for any ceasefire, while signaling intentions to claim even more territory such as Kharkiv and Sumy if initial demands are met. Despite a lengthy phone call between Putin and former US President Donald Trump, in which Trump expressed optimism about imminent ceasefire negotiations, Russia has refused unconditional ceasefire proposals, insisting that 'root causes'—interpreted as Ukraine's demilitarization, neutral status, and political concessions—must be addressed first. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejected these ultimatums, affirming Ukraine's constitutional duty to defend its sovereignty and refusing to withdraw troops from its own territory. Analysts and officials emphasize that Russia’s maximalist demands complicate peace efforts, as they seek to impose terms that would severely undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and security ties with the West. Overall, while diplomatic dialogues continue, significant gaps remain, with Russia maintaining hardline positions and Ukraine determined to resist territorial concessions.