The Kremlin repeated the demand for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbass to conclude a peace agreement

The Kremlin continues to insist on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territory of the entire Donbass to conclude a peace agreement with Kiev.

“ They know in Ukraine that this needs to be done and that sooner or later they will do it anyway ,” Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said in an interview with Russian state television on May 10.

In the meantime, according to him, Kiev, with the support of its European allies, refuses to even “ start discussing this step .”

Earlier, Ushakov said that there is currently no point in the next round of trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States, since Kyiv does not agree to the withdrawal of its troops from Donbass.

“ Kiev needs to take only one serious step, after which, firstly, military actions will cease, and, secondly, prospects will open for a serious discussion of the prospects for a further long-term settlement ,” Ushakov said, as quoted by Russian agencies.

The Russian presidential aide added that “ convincing each other ” of the need for this step during a new trilateral meeting is a “ waste of time .”

Previously, the President of Ukraine has repeatedly stated that Kiev categorically rejects Russia’s demand for the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from the entire territory of Donbass as a condition for the cessation of hostilities.

At the same time, Western media reported that this demand is supported by US President Donald Trump.

According to the latest survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), only 36% of Ukrainians agree to the withdrawal of troops from the entire Donetsk region in exchange for security guarantees from the United States and Europe.

57% of respondents consider it categorically unacceptable to transfer the entire Donetsk region to Russian control in exchange for security guarantees. 7% could not decide.