Reuters: Putin will agree to talks on ending the war only after getting Donbas
Reuters reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine only after receiving Donbas, which Ukraine controls. The US hopes a diesel supply deal will soften Moscow's stance.
The international news agency Reuters reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine only after he has received Donbas. This is a region in eastern Ukraine that Ukraine currently controls. The report describes Moscow's position on peace talks: before negotiations begin, Russia is setting a territorial demand.
US expectations
According to the headline of the Reuters report, the United States hopes that a deal on diesel fuel supplies will soften Moscow's position in peace talks. That hope sits uneasily with the condition Reuters attributes to Putin: if Russia wants Donbas handed over before talks, a supply deal alone may not be enough to change its stance.
What the source does not say
The available information is very brief. It does not specify who would supply diesel and to whom, what the volumes or terms are, or whether the deal has already been concluded or is still under discussion. It also does not say what sources Reuters relies on for the claim that Putin will agree to talks only after receiving Donbas.
So far, only the main point is clear: according to Reuters, Moscow's demand for Donbas stands, while the US is trying to influence Russia's position through a supply agreement.
