Russia Says Ceasefire Depends on Ukraine’s Withdrawal From Donbas as Fighting Intensifies

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

MOSCOW/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russia escalated its war rhetoric Friday, stating that any ceasefire with Ukraine is conditional on Kyiv’s complete withdrawal from the Donbas region, as Ukrainian forces claimed new gains near the strategic northeastern hub of Kupiansk.

While peace negotiations slowly continue, territory remains a central issue. Moscow insists it has a historical and cultural claim to the Donbas, which it considers a key strategic region for both Russia and Ukraine.

“If not by negotiation, then by military means, this territory will come under the full control of the Russian Federation,” said Yuri Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy adviser. “Everything else will depend entirely on that.”

Ushakov further stated that Russia’s National Guard could be deployed to the Donbas under a peace agreement, with regular Russian army units withdrawn from areas still under Ukrainian control.

These comments came as Kyiv claimed it had regained parts of Kupiansk and several surrounding villages following intense fighting.

UKRAINE CLAIMS GAINS AROUND KUPIANSK

In a statement Friday, Ihor Obolienskyi, commander of the Khartiia Corps of Ukraine’s National Guard, said Ukrainian forces had encircled Russian troops in the area.

“Today, we can say that the Russians in the city are completely cut off,” Obolienskyi said. “For a long time, they couldn’t understand what was happening. But now they know they are surrounded.”

Russia claimed in November that it had taken complete control of Kupiansk, a statement Ukraine denied.

Kupiansk lies in Kharkiv Oblast, a strategically vital region in eastern Ukraine, close to the Donbas and major front lines, making it an important logistics hub for both sides.

The fighting, which likely resulted in casualties, occurred despite the United States sending a representative to participate in Ukraine-related talks in Europe over the weekend.

TRUMP WARNS AGAINST PROLONGED TALKS

U.S. President Donald J. Trump cautioned that Washington does not want to waste “a lot of time” on negotiations over a war he once pledged he could end within 24 hours.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said, “We’ll be attending the meeting on Saturday in Europe if we think there’s a good chance. And we don’t want to waste a lot of time if we think it’s negative.”

Ahead of the talks, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Russia’s actions pose a growing threat to Europe’s security.

NATO WARNS OF FUTURE RUSSIAN THREAT

“Russia has brought war back to Europe, and we must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured,” Rutte said.

He stressed that if NATO “delivers on our commitments, this is a tragedy we can prevent,” but warned that Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO “within five years.”

Critics accused Rutte of alarmism, pointing out that it took Moscow years to capture just one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. However, Rutte maintained that Russia could rebuild its military strength more quickly than expected.

“Too many are quietly complacent,” he said. “Too many believe time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now.”

EUROPE FACES PRESSURE TO REARM

In a keynote speech in Berlin, Rutte emphasized that modern conflicts “are no longer fought at arm’s length.”

“Conflict is at our door,” he warned, urging NATO military alliance allies to increase defense spending and military production rapidly.

With Washington increasingly focused on other global priorities, European governments are facing growing pressure to accelerate their own military capabilities, as the war in Ukraine continues to reshape Europe’s security landscape.

As fighting continues near Kupiansk and Russia hardens its stance on the Donbas, prospects for a near-term ceasefire remain uncertain nearly four years into a war that is believed to have killed and injured at least over 1 million people.

(With additional reporting from Washington.)

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