Russia revives Nato pullback demand as US raises Ukraine’s Donbas withdrawal in peace talks

New Delhi: Russia is bringing Nato’s presence in Eastern Europe back into negotiations. Moscow is reiterating its pre-war demand that the alliance withdraw its troops, adding another complication to attempts to end the fighting in Ukraine.

Russian representatives shared a document setting out their position during closed-door meetings with the US president’s envoys. The document reiterates demands made in December 2021, including that Nato return to its 1997 military positions, the New York Times reported.

The latest demand concerns Nato’s eastern front, which comprises Poland and the Baltic states. It signals that Moscow wants any Ukraine settlement to take account of its concerns about European security arrangements.

The document came out of two days of trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the US in Abu Dhabi. The US envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, then travelled to Moscow to brief the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Washington raises Donbas proposal

A separate issue has emerged over the future of Ukrainian territory. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said US negotiators had asked whether Ukraine would withdraw from the part of the Donbas it still controls in exchange for Nato membership.

This is the first time Washington has raised the possibility with Kyiv, according to Zelenskyy, who added that he would consult his people before considering any such move, the Financial Times reported.

Ukraine controls about 20 per cent of the Donbas, which Russian forces have failed to capture despite sustained military operations. Zelenskyy has also ruled out recognizing occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian.

Russia’s demands have prompted European governments to push for a direct role in the peace process. EU leaders have agreed on a group comprising France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK, alongside the EU and Nato, for upcoming technical-level discussions.

Moscow had previously opposed European participation, accusing these countries of supporting Ukraine. Kushner said Russia had now agreed to include European representatives in future discussions.

However, European leaders have rejected the need to renegotiate the continent’s existing security framework. The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said Nato already provides that structure, while the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called for a ceasefire before further discussions on Russia’s demands.

The diplomatic efforts have continued alongside heavy fighting. Ukraine launched nearly 1,200 drones at Russian targets overnight between Thursday and Friday, in one of its largest aerial attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences intercepted 1,198 Ukrainian long-range drones. However, strikes across three Russian regions killed seven people.

The developments come ahead of a proposed meeting between Trump, Putin and the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, in Shenzhen next week. The gathering is expected to address wider international security issues, although Ukraine has not been confirmed as a formal agenda item.