While Russia has larger concerns regarding security arrangements that addresses the push of NATO toward their borders, it is widely reported, and possibly true, that, regarding the battlefront situation in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin was willing, in Anchorage, to halt their military advances across the board if Kiev withdrew their forces from the diminishing portion of the Donetsk Region that they still hold. (After the vote in both Lugansk and Donetsk in September 2022 to join Russia, Moscow views it as their obligation to clear foreign troops out.
Now, on both sides, there are indications that Ukraine’s acting president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has dug in his heels against Washington—both backed by his ‘Coalition of the Willing’ partners and possibly motivated, in large part, by his inability to stay in office should he agree to the territorial realities.
Now, the Financial Times, citing eight ‘people familiar with the talks,' reports that U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine will depend on whether Kyiv agrees to withdraw its troops from the non-occupied part of Donbas. FT adds that Kiev was told that Washington would give Kiev additional weaponry if they sign on to the deal.
