Russia reiterates demand for Ukraine to abandon territory as first trilateral talks with U.S. begin

January 23, 2026

TL;DR

Russia demands Ukrainian forces withdraw from the Donbas region as a precondition for a peace agreement.
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy identified the fate of Russian-occupied territory as the last issue hindering a ceasefire deal.
The dispute over the Donbas region, which Russia has occupied and annexed, is a crucial disagreement.
Ukraine refuses to sign any peace deal that formally cedes occupied land and seeks U.S. security guarantees.
President Trump's envoy indicated that negotiations were down to one issue, later identified by Zelenskyy as the eastern part of Ukraine.
Putin has threatened to seize full control of the Donbas if peace talks fail.
Ukraine has warned that ceding territory would embolden Russia for future attacks.
Zelenskyy expressed readiness to sign security guarantee documents with the U.S., pending President Trump's decision on a date and place.

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