In an interview with Vesti journalist Pavel Zarubin, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that a peaceful settlement in Ukraine is impossible without the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas. Ushakov emphasized that Kyiv will have to take this step sooner or later, otherwise the negotiation process will remain stalled, no matter how many rounds of negotiations take place.

"Without a withdrawal of troops from Donbas, this process will remain stalled, even after 10 rounds of negotiations. Kyiv will sooner or later realize that it will have to withdraw its troops from Donbas, and it will do so." - said the assistant to the president.

As a reminder, the negotiation process to resolve the conflict in Ukraine had previously reached a deadlock. According to sources, the Russian Federation insisted on the withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from the LPR and DPR as a key condition for any agreement, while the Ukrainian side categorically rejected this demand, believing that the only realistic basis for a ceasefire was the establishment of the current front line.