The Kremlin declared that Volodymyr Zelensky should have made the decision to withdraw his forces from Donbas "yesterday", to put an end to the "hot phase" of the war.

The Kremlin declared on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should have made the decision to withdraw his forces from Donbas "yesterday" to put an end to the "hot phase" of the war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made these comments after Zelensky announced that Russia would tighten the conditions for a peace agreement if Ukrainian troops do not withdraw within two months.

Peskov emphasized that the decision to withdraw could save lives and facilitate the end of the conflict. Zelensky rejected the idea that Russia could conquer the rest of Donbas in two months and reaffirmed Ukraine's desire for a diplomatic solution, but insisted on maintaining current positions on the front.

Russia has repeatedly demanded Ukraine's withdrawal from Donbas as an essential condition for any resolution of the conflict, while Kyiv has proposed a ceasefire along current lines. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Russian forces have taken full control of the Luhansk region, but the information has not been independently verified.