Kremlin: Zelensky Can End War by Withdrawing Troops, Recognizing Annexed Regions

The Kremlin issued a statement reiterating that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once campaigned on a promise to end the war in Donbas. According to Moscow, that pledge remains achievable if Zelensky makes a "very responsible decision" to withdraw Ukrainian forces from the Donbas region and formally recognize the annexation of territories that Russia now considers its own.

The statement frames recognition of the current de facto situation as a de jure settlement. This is the latest in a series of Kremlin demands that have been consistently rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies. The comment comes as diplomatic efforts remain stalled and fighting continues along the front lines.