The Kremlin said on Monday that the issue of territory remained fundamental to Russia when seeking a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine, TASS reported after the weekend talks in Abu Dhabi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said Russia will take all of Ukraine’s Donbas region unless Kyiv agrees to cede it in a settlement.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated the position, saying “the territorial issue, which is part of the Anchorage formula, is of fundamental importance to the Russian side.”
He added: “It’s no secret that this is our consistent position, the position of our president.”
The Anchorage formula refers to what Russia says was agreed between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin during a summit in Alaska last August.
A source close to the Kremlin has said the understanding envisages Ukraine handing Russia full control of Donbas and freezing the front lines elsewhere in the east and south as part of any future agreement.
Kyiv has consistently rejected any settlement involving territorial concessions, saying it will not give Russia territory it has failed to capture by force.
Peskov said Moscow viewed the opening exchanges in Abu Dhabi as constructive but warned against expecting quick progress. “It would be a mistake to expect any significant results,” he said.
“This is a very complex matter, with complex issues on the agenda.” He noted that the talks remain at an expert level and are still in their initial stages.
He confirmed that trilateral contacts will continue next week, though a specific date has not yet been finalised.
Peskov said no phone call between Putin and Trump is currently scheduled but noted that high-level contacts can be arranged rapidly if needed.
On regional developments, he warned that a U.S. strike on Iran “would seriously destabilise the Middle East” and called for restraint.
Peskov also said Russia remains in “constant contact” with Venezuela on ongoing projects and investments, while describing reports of a potential U.S. blockade of Cuba as “alarming.”
Ukraine has maintained that no settlement can involve giving up territory, a position it repeated after the Abu Dhabi talks.
Kyiv stressed that it will not transfer land Russia has failed to seize by force, a stance underscored in public statements on 25 January.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s territorial integrity remains non-negotiable and noted that any future framework must respect the country’s internationally recognised borders.
He added that concessions on land would undermine the entire basis of a durable agreement.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 10 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June....
A discreet visit to Kyiv by Russian billionaire and businessman Roman Abramovich has reignited debate about the role of unofficial diplomacy in effort...
At least 13 people were killed and 14 others wounded after Pakistani airstrikes targeted areas in eastern Afghanistan, according to Taliban spokespers...
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American b...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 10 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
A discreet visit to Kyiv by Russian billionaire and businessman Roman Abramovich has reignited debate about the role of unofficial diplomacy in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Uzbekistan and Russia have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy and food security following high-level meetings held during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in parliament, Pashinyan is set for a third term as Prime Minister. But an opposition politican has said he will challenge the election results.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
A Sudanese man has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast that left a man seriously injured and prompted calls online for a protest after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família basilica, almost exactly 100 years after the visionary architect’s death.
Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have meanwhile made pleas for peace.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 10 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A discreet visit to Kyiv by Russian billionaire and businessman Roman Abramovich has reignited debate about the role of unofficial diplomacy in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be one of a kind when it kicks off on 11 June, as it brings with it a slew of firsts ahead of co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match.
Ukraine has signed a drone cooperation agreement with Latvia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday during a meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs on the sidelines of a summit involving Ukraine and Nordic-Baltic leaders in Tallinn, Estonia.
Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 squad arrived in Mexico wearing badges bearing the hashtag "168" in memory of victims of the deadly Minab school missile strike, which occurred during the U.S. and Israeli raids on Iran on 28 February, according to the Iran Football Federation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment