Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Vladimir Putin, asserted on May 10 that any settlement regarding the war in Ukraine will “stand still” unless Kyiv withdraws its military from the Donbas. Despite this rigid ultimatum, Ushakov expressed confidence that the US has not abandoned the diplomatic track, predicting that Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will soon return to Moscow for further talks.
The Kremlin has signaled that diplomatic efforts to end the war will face a continued deadlock unless Ukraine agrees to a total military withdrawal from the Donbas region.
Speaking to Russian state media, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov emphasized that Russia’s stance on territorial control remains unchanged. “A settlement in Ukraine without the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) from Donbas will stand still even after 10 rounds of negotiations,” Ushakov stated, adding that he believes Kyiv will eventually be forced to “realize” this necessity.
Despite the harsh rhetoric regarding territorial concessions, the Kremlin appears to remain open to the diplomatic channel established by the Trump administration.