Moscow, April 23, 2025 — Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said the conflict in Ukraine could be stopped immediately if Kiev fulfills a number of conditions. In particular, the Russian side insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from four regions — the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, which are enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation as part of Russian territory. This statement was made against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities and the lack of progress in diplomatic negotiations.

According to Peskov, the fulfillment of this demand could become the basis for a ceasefire and the beginning of a peaceful settlement. He emphasized that Russia views these territories as an integral part of its state structure, which excludes any compromises on their status.

Peskov's statement was a response to recent discussions in international circles about possible ways to de-escalate the conflict. At the moment, the Ukrainian side has not commented on these conditions, but Kyiv has previously repeatedly stated its commitment to restoring the country's territorial integrity within the 1991 borders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stressed that any negotiations are possible only after the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from territories that Ukraine considers its own.