【Kremlin Weekly Interview: Ukraine Understands It Must Withdraw from Donbas】

On May 10, 2026, Moscow time, Yuri Ushakov, Assistant to the President of Russia, responded to questions posed by Pavel Zaryubin, Chief Kremlin Correspondent, during an interview:

Ukraine understands that it must withdraw its forces from Donbas, and at some point it will inevitably do so. If Ukrainian troops fail to pull out of Donbas, even dozens of rounds of negotiations will lead to a stalemate in any reconciliation agreement.

Ushakov added:

We have reached a situation where one side must take a crucial step before further steps become possible. Without this initial move, "dozens of bullets" may pass, but the issue will remain stuck in place.

(Every Sunday, senior Kremlin officials are interviewed by Pavel Zaryubin, offering commentary on the week’s most pressing topics.)

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864814235337799/

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