Russia Demands Troop Withdrawal from Four Regions
- During negotiations in Saudi Arabia,Russia is reportedly seeking the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from the Donetsk,Luhansk,Zaporizhzhia,and Kherson regions,according to sources familiar with the Kremlin's thinking.
- one official indicated that Moscow is determined to gain control of these regions,as losing them would be a significant political setback for President Vladimir Putin.
- "Ther is no mechanism in the Constitution for the exit of regions from Russia. We need the whole Zaporizhzhia and the entire Kherson region."
Moscow Eyes Potential Trump Pressure on Kyiv Regarding territory
Table of Contents
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — March 24, 2025
During negotiations in Saudi Arabia,Russia is reportedly seeking the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from the Donetsk,Luhansk,Zaporizhzhia,and Kherson regions,according to sources familiar with the Kremlin’s thinking.
one official indicated that Moscow is determined to gain control of these regions,as losing them would be a significant political setback for President Vladimir Putin.
“Ther is no mechanism in the Constitution for the exit of regions from Russia. We need the whole Zaporizhzhia and the entire Kherson region.”
Another official suggested that U.S. president Donald Trump might pressure Ukraine to withdraw its troops or encourage Russia to engage in prolonged negotiations while attempting to seize the territories. The latter option is considered less desirable for Moscow, as it would necessitate the Russian military forcing river crossings.
Furthermore, Russia might attempt to occupy parts of the Dnipropetrovsk or sumy regions to use them as bargaining chips in exchange for Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. “We hope to find an option in which you do not have to force the Dnieper and storm Kherson. I really hope that it will not reach. It will mean thousands of losses for us,” the official stated.
A Russian diplomat told reporters that while the American president is unlikely to “surrender” all of Ukraine, moscow hopes he is indifferent to which territories are “given” to Putin.
“As far as I understand, Trump wants to see a modern, well-armed, pro-Western ukraine. He cannot just give Ukraine fully. But where exactly the border will be held – this is not so significant for him.”
Saudi Arabia Talks
On March 23, delegations from Ukraine and the United States met in Riyadh. Discussions centered on infrastructure protection, maritime security, and a potential ceasefire.
The following day, closed-door negotiations took place between Russian and American representatives. Media reports indicate the meeting lasted over 12 hours, with breaks. A joint statement is anticipated on March 25.
Moscow’s Territorial Goals adn Potential US Involvement in Ukraine
Understanding the current Situation
Q: What are Russia’s primary objectives in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine?
Based on reports from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Russia is primarily seeking the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from the Donetsk, Luhansk, zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Gaining control of these regions is considered crucial for President Vladimir Putin. Losing these areas would represent a significant political setback.
Q: Why are these specific regions so vital to Russia?
One official indicated that Moscow is persistent to gain control of these regions. The goal is to solidify control over the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. A loss of control over these regions would be viewed as a critical setback for President Putin.
Q: How is Russia considering achieving its territorial goals?
According to sources, Russia might be considering the following strategies:
Pressuring Ukraine to withdraw its troops.
Encouraging prolonged negotiations while concurrently attempting to seize the territories.
Occupying parts of the Dnipropetrovsk or Sumy regions to use as bargaining chips.
The Role of the United states
Q: How might the United States, particularly under a potential future administration, influence the situation?
Reports suggest that the US, particularly under potential future leadership, could influence the situation in a few ways:
Direct Pressure: POTUS could pressure Ukraine to make concessions, potentially including withdrawing troops from certain territories.
Negotiations: The US could encourage Russia to engage in prolonged negotiations while Russia attempts to seize territory on the ground.
Bargaining chips: The US could influence which territories are ‘given’ to russia, with little concern for the specific border location.
Q: What is the expected outcome of the negotiations between the US and Russia?
Closed-door negotiations between Russian and American representatives took place for over 12 hours in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A joint statement is anticipated on March 25th, which will provide more details. More updates on the negotiations will be provided as they become available.
Q: Does the US have any other goals for Ukraine?
A Russian diplomat stated that the US potentially wants to see a modern, well-armed, and pro-Western ukraine.
Key Considerations
Q: What are the potential implications if Russia has to forcibly seize territory?
forcing the Dnieper River crossing and storming Kherson would result in significant losses.
Q: What happened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in relation to the Ukraine conflict?
On March 23rd, delegations from Ukraine and the United States met in Riyadh. Discussions focused on infrastructure protection, maritime security, and a potential ceasefire.
On March 24th, closed-door negotiations took place between Russian and American representatives.Media reports indicate the meeting lasted over 12 hours, with breaks.
Summary of Potential Outcomes
| Potential Outcome | Description |
| :———————————————– | :—————————————————————————————————————————————————- |
| Ukrainian Troop Withdrawal | This is the primary objective for Russia, and might be influenced by American pressure.|
| Prolonged Negotiations | Moscow seeks to utilize the negotiations to gain time and seize territories.|
| Bargaining Chips | Moscow targets regions like Dnipropetrovsk or Sumy to use them as bargaining chips for gaining control of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. |
| Russian diplomats | Seek a modern, well-armed, and pro-Western Ukraine, but might potentially be less concerned where exactly the border will be held. |