Putin demands Ukraine withdraw troops from Donetsk, offers to freeze southern front in exchange for territorial concessions

according to the Financial Times, Putin demanded that Ukraine withdraw troops from the Donetsk region as a condition for ending the conflict. He told Trump that if his core demands were met, he could freeze the fighting in other frontlines. According to four sources familiar with the talks, Putin made this request during his meeting with Trump in Alaska on Friday. Subsequently, Trump conveyed this information to Zelensky and European leaders during a call on Saturday, urging them to abandon efforts to seek Moscow's agreement for a ceasefire. Three sources familiar with the talks said that in exchange for Ukraine handing over the Donetsk region, Putin said he would freeze the frontlines in the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions (where Russian forces control large areas) and would not launch new offensives to take more territory. People familiar with Zelensky's thinking said he would not agree to hand over Donetsk but was willing to discuss territorial issues with Trump in Washington - the two are expected to meet in Washington on Monday.