By KUMAIL JAFFER

Published: 12:00 GMT, 25 March 2025 | Updated: 12:00 GMT, 25 March 2025

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Russia is demanding complete control of four Ukrainian regions it is partially occupying as high-level peace talks with the US continue, insiders have revealed. The Kremlin wants American officials to pressure Kyiv to withdraw troops from the territories in order to achieve the 'full-on' ceasefire sought by the White House.

Russia is demanding complete control of four Ukrainian regions it is partially occupying as high-level peace talks with the US continue, insiders have revealed. The Kremlin wants American officials to pressure Kyiv to withdraw troops from the territories in order to achieve the ‘full-on’ ceasefire sought by the White House.

US officials are hoping to broker a limited ceasefire proposal that would apply to the Black Sea before progressing to a wider cessation of hostilities. But Vladimir Putin's negotiators are reportedly pushing for guaranteed control of Ukrainian territory before laying down arms. Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine during the talks, launching 139 drones an a ballistic missile overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force.

US officials are hoping to broker a limited ceasefire proposal that would apply to the Black Sea before progressing to a wider cessation of hostilities. But Vladimir Putin’s negotiators are reportedly pushing for guaranteed control of Ukrainian territory before laying down arms. Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine during the talks, launching 139 drones an a ballistic missile overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force.

At least 17 children were among 88 injured in the missile strike on a children's hospital on Monday as discussions in Saudia Arabia continued. Ukrainian and US delegations are scheduled to meet today following Washington's negotiatians with Russia, with a White House source suggesting that a 'positive announcement' is expected soon. US President Donald Trump said one of the issues on the table which remained up for discussion was around territory. Moscow is claiming that the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions are Russian, despite not being in full control of any of them.

At least 17 children were among 88 injured in the missile strike on a children’s hospital on Monday as discussions in Saudia Arabia continued. Ukrainian and US delegations are scheduled to meet today following Washington’s negotiatians with Russia, with a White House source suggesting that a ‘positive announcement’ is expected soon. US President Donald Trump said one of the issues on the table which remained up for discussion was around territory. Moscow is claiming that the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions are Russian, despite not being in full control of any of them.

Putin, who announced the annexation of the four territories in 2022, is insisting on control over the land at any cost, according to Kremlin sources. One official told the Moscow Times : 'There is no constitutional mechanism for regions to secede. 'We need all of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Either Trump influences them to leave, or we¿re told: "Enter into long negotiations and simply use military force to establish control." 'That¿s the worst option for us, because river crossings are always painful operations. 'We hope to find an option that doesn¿t involve forcing the Dnipro and storming Kherson. 'I really hope it doesn¿t come to that. That would mean for us thousands of casualties.'

Putin, who announced the annexation of the four territories in 2022, is insisting on control over the land at any cost, according to Kremlin sources. One official told the Moscow Times : ‘There is no constitutional mechanism for regions to secede. ‘We need all of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Either Trump influences them to leave, or we’re told: “Enter into long negotiations and simply use military force to establish control.” ‘That’s the worst option for us, because river crossings are always painful operations. ‘We hope to find an option that doesn’t involve forcing the Dnipro and storming Kherson. ‘I really hope it doesn’t come to that. That would mean for us thousands of casualties.’

Last week Trump said 'contracts' are being drawn up for a full ceasefire that would include 'dividing up the lands'. Russian officials reportedly believe that the exact border line is 'not that crucial to him'. President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected recognizing Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories in any peace talks, calling it a 'red line' that Kyiv will not cross. Experts suggest that Russia is effectively in full control of Crimea and Luhansk, while controlling a significant proportion of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Last week Trump said ‘contracts’ are being drawn up for a full ceasefire that would include ‘dividing up the lands’. Russian officials reportedly believe that the exact border line is ‘not that crucial to him’. President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected recognizing Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories in any peace talks, calling it a ‘red line’ that Kyiv will not cross. Experts suggest that Russia is effectively in full control of Crimea and Luhansk, while controlling a significant proportion of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Tomá¿ Pojar, the national security adviser to the Czech government, suggested that it would be a 'huge success' if Kyiv emerged from talks with the majority of their originally held territory. 'Let¿s wait to see whether Donald Trump manages to stop the war and whether Ukraine ends up governing 80% of its territory ¿which, by the way, would be a huge success,' he told Czech outlet Deník N. 'That¿s certainly not how Vladimir Putin envisioned it three years ago. Putin wants to restore the Soviet Union. And to do that, he needs Ukraine. The Soviet Union without Ukraine is not the Soviet Union.'

Tomáš Pojar, the national security adviser to the Czech government, suggested that it would be a ‘huge success’ if Kyiv emerged from talks with the majority of their originally held territory. ‘Let’s wait to see whether Donald Trump manages to stop the war and whether Ukraine ends up governing 80% of its territory —which, by the way, would be a huge success,’ he told Czech outlet Deník N. ‘That’s certainly not how Vladimir Putin envisioned it three years ago. Putin wants to restore the Soviet Union. And to do that, he needs Ukraine. The Soviet Union without Ukraine is not the Soviet Union.’

Both Russia and Ukraine accused one another of carrying on hostilities during the Riyadh talks. After the missile strike on Sumy yeserday, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine¿s foreign minister, said Russia 'must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians' instead of making 'hollow statements about peace'. The country's air force also shot down 78 drones during a Russian overnight attack.

Both Russia and Ukraine accused one another of carrying on hostilities during the Riyadh talks. After the missile strike on Sumy yeserday, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said Russia ‘must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians’ instead of making ‘hollow statements about peace’. The country’s air force also shot down 78 drones during a Russian overnight attack.

Moscow claimed that a targeted artillery strike killed six people, including two journalists and their driver, in Russian-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine¿s Luhansk region. The current negotiations are focused on securing a maritime truce in the Black Sea as a basis to wider ceasefire talks. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that progress made in Saudi Arabia will mean the situation 'naturally gravitates to a full-on shooting ceasefire'.

Moscow claimed that a targeted artillery strike killed six people, including two journalists and their driver, in Russian-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk region. The current negotiations are focused on securing a maritime truce in the Black Sea as a basis to wider ceasefire talks. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that progress made in Saudi Arabia will mean the situation ‘naturally gravitates to a full-on shooting ceasefire’.

A joint Russia-US statement is expected in the coming hours. Moscow is hoping that the UN is given a seat at the negotiating table. Grigory Karasin, who is co-leading the Moscow delegation, told the state TASS news agency: 'We talked about everything, it was an intense dialogue, not easy, but very useful for us and the Americans. We are far from solving everything, from being in agreement on all points, but it seems that this type of discussion is very timely. We will continue doing it, adding in the international community, above all the United Nations and certain countries.'

A joint Russia-US statement is expected in the coming hours. Moscow is hoping that the UN is given a seat at the negotiating table. Grigory Karasin, who is co-leading the Moscow delegation, told the state TASS news agency: ‘We talked about everything, it was an intense dialogue, not easy, but very useful for us and the Americans. We are far from solving everything, from being in agreement on all points, but it seems that this type of discussion is very timely. We will continue doing it, adding in the international community, above all the United Nations and certain countries.’

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Russia ‘demanding more Ukrainian territory than it currently holds’

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