Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has said that the legal recognition of Crimea and Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as Russian territory must be one of the key issues in negotiations with the United States.

Source: Russian news agency Interfax

Details: Responding to a question about reports that the US side is prepared to recognise Crimea and Donbas as Russian de facto but not de jure, Putin said this should become a central issue in negotiations.

Quote: "That is precisely what should be the subject of our negotiations with the American side. Thank you for highlighting this. It is one of the key points."

Background:

• On 27 November, Putin claimed that the proposed list of 28 points in the US "peace plan" could serve as a basis for future agreements on the war in Ukraine.
• He also claimed that hostilities in Ukraine will end once the Armed Forces of Ukraine withdraw from territories they currently hold in Donbas.
• On 21 November, Axios published the full text of the 28-point peace plan, according to which Ukraine would have to renounce its territories permanently while Russia would receive amnesty.
• On 23 November, the United Kingdom, Germany and France prepared counterproposals to the initial 28-point US "peace plan", aiming to make it more favourable for Ukraine.
• Also on 23 November, negotiations took place in Geneva between the Ukrainian and US delegations, after which an "updated" peace document was announced.
• The Financial Times reported that following the Geneva talks – after which amendments were made to the Trump team's original proposal – the number of points in the plan was reduced from 28 to 19.

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