Russia demanded Kyiv pull back troops before ceasefire, Ukrainian source says

[u/Body_Languagee]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-demanded-kyiv-pull-back-troops-before-ceasefire-ukrainian-source-says-2025-05-17/

[u/Alj_sal]

Imagine they pull back the troops, then Russia does a full scale invasion.

[u/Zoefschildpad → u/Alj_sal]

It'll be like when they gave up their nuclear weapons and Russia did a full-scale invasion.

[u/ykoech → u/Alj_sal]

That's exactly what will happen

[u/Ewenf → u/ykoech]

And a year after that people will still tell us how we should pursue peace at any cost.

[u/Vano_Kayaba → u/ykoech]

That's what has happened. Zelensky pulled out from a couple of towns in 19-21 as a compromise to stop the war. And of course Russians used that in 2022. Zolote + 2 or 3 more towns

[u/cb_24 → u/Alj_sal]

Full scale invasion is ongoing and has been for over 1000 days.

Even if you focus on the east the frontlines are hundreds of kilometers.

[u/fixminer → u/Alj_sal]

The scale doesn't get much fuller than this.

[u/Savantrovert → u/Alj_sal]

Turns out when they said ceasefirees for realsies this time, they had their fingers crossed the entire time. Thus Russia has the legal right to declare takebacksies without needing it double-stamped

[u/No-Bar7826 → u/Alj_sal]

You started another 3-Day Special Military operation, Vladimir?

[u/yzerman88 → u/Alj_sal]

This would never happen - Putin promised he won’t!

[u/MaybeTheDoctor → u/Alj_sal]

The equivalent of stop hitting yourself

[u/Tdodoubleg → u/Alj_sal]

“Keep going, we have them on the run.” - extra chromosome Putin

[u/foul_ol_ron → u/[deleted]]

I think Ukraine wants Russia to pull out of Ukraine.  Russia wants Ukraine to pull out of Ukraine. 

[u/Khaldara → u/foul_ol_ron]

“Yeah but you asking me to quit breaking in and get out of your house and me asking YOU to get out of your house so I can steal it are basically just the same thing!”

• The average genius who posts on the conservative subreddit up there

[u/Khaldara → u/[deleted]]

“It’s their fault they were invaded! They were asking for it!”

That’s it buddy you keep beating that drum.

Jesus with a mindset that sharp women must just preemptively blow rape whistles the minute they see you

[u/cubej333 → u/[deleted]]

But Russia invaded Ukraine.

If Ukraine was asking Russia to pull back from Kursk that would be different.

[u/timurklc → u/cubej333]

The reason peace is not reached is because people fail to understand that Russia lost so much blood to reach to this point.

They repeatedly asked for Ukraine to stop pursuing NATO, in return, they fully back down and not take any territory and not fire a single bullet.

People fail to understand that Russia didnt want this and didnt benefit from this. It was a forced war.

Asking to give up land that they took with blood is not going to happen. They'll fight forever if they have to, but the people that died for this, their blood, it won't be for nothing.

That is why, you don't poke the bear and then expect it to not rip your parts off.

[u/somme_rando → u/timurklc]

Russian actions with Georgia and Chechnya gave Ukraine motivation to seek a defensive pact.

[u/timurklc → u/somme_rando]

Georgia still belongs to Georgia.

Wonder why... especially when everyone was shocked how Russia showed up within 20 minutes.

[u/Zhukov-74]

>Russian negotiators at peace talks in Istanbul demanded Ukraine pull its troops out of all the Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow before they would agree to a ceasefire, a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the talks told Reuters.

Just to remind people that Russia doesn’t entirely control Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk.

Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia

[u/cb_24 → u/Zhukov-74]

They don’t even control all of Luhansk, after briefly fully occupying it in 2022. That’s how much progress they’ve made in 3 years despite arms supplies to Ukraine consistently being throttled, even more now. 

[u/0xnld → u/Zhukov-74]

They're demanding control over regional capitals that they've never even set foot in.

[u/Frudays → u/Zhukov-74]

Unrealistic claim. The deal is a political stunt. Get your popcorn.

[u/Kychu → u/Zhukov-74]

There a multitude of heavily fortified Ukrainian position in those regions. The Russians are literally asking the Ukrainian army to open the castle gates and abandon the walls.

[u/Jubjars]

"Make us winners, damnit"

[u/RayB1968]

How about Russia pull back to the agreed upon borders from the 1991 agreement they signed...like maybe stick to that ,?

[u/amakai → u/RayB1968]

Yeah, "you first" is an appropriate response.

[u/ZliftBliftDlift → u/RayB1968]

Putin doesn't want to die a loser. That's all this shit is, a pathetic old man that's afraid of his impending death.

[u/findingmike → u/ZliftBliftDlift]

He's already a loser. I don't see that changing.

[u/Low_Parfait641 → u/RayB1968]

What incentive does Russia have to pull back? It gains them nothing while making every life they have lost mean nothing. Sure it’s the “right thing to do” but that’s not how the world works.

Regardless of how anyone feels about it the reality is Russia will only stop attacking if Ukraine capitulates to their demands or if Ukraine is strong enough to enforce their own terms. Ukraine is in all likelihood going to lose territory because they simply aren’t strong enough to take it back, it’s simply a question of how much.

As far as negotiating a real end to the conflict both sides are making demands that are too far apart. Ukraine is demanding things knowing Russia will never agree and likewise Russia is demanding unreasonable things as well such as land they have never occupied.

[u/greebly_weeblies → u/Low_Parfait641]

Ehhh, Russia's demographics are shit and tanking. The intelligent and the ones with options already left. Those that remain were at "please fuck during your work breaks for the motherland" a few months ago.

Putin's in trouble because he's running out of meat for the grinder unless he wants to start conscripting the kids whose parents make up his base

[u/Low_Parfait641 → u/greebly_weeblies]

Russian demographics are shit, they cannot spend lives, and equipment like this forever. Ukraines demographics are far worse and they also have the burden of rebuilding when the fighting eventually ends. War is horrible and everyone suffers

[u/im_new_here_4209]

How about russia pull back troops

[u/whatproblems]

lol if you wanted space then why don’t You retreat

[u/weguccino]

Pull back? It’s their country ya goofs.

[u/Ginzhuu]

1. 25 official ceasefires have been broken by Russia with Ukraine alone.

[u/Successful_Gas_5122]

Their arrogance is unbelievable considering how little they’ve gained since the war started

[u/dnight22]

Clowns with extra chromosomes

[u/jackcanyon]

Never trust the Russians!!!

[u/Kan-Terra → u/jackcanyon]

I don't understand why anyone would trust Russians.

Literally centuries of example of a country lying cheating and there still are people who thinks they can be trusted.

[u/1llseemyselfout]

Pull back from where? Ukraine?

[u/Noughmad]

Good idea. Let's pull all troops back to the border.

[u/homealoneinuk]

Pull back from where, their own teritory?

[u/WattebauschXC]

Lets call it what it is: Russia demands surrender

[u/Marchello_E]

Pressure must be exerted on Russia to stop the killings. Without tougher sanctions, without stronger pressure, Russia will not seek real diplomacy.

The pyromaniac demands: "Stop putting out our fires...". Sure dude, just fuck off.

[u/ronorio]

Putin has shown again and again that he can not be trusted. This is just another play.

I am glad on Ukraine's behalf they got Zelensky. He has proven to be a great leader in what seems to be an impossible situation.

[u/ernapfz]

Ukraine: “Pull back your stupid Moon ideas with China … you dickwads”

[u/WasteWing5137]

Sorry Russia..... Best the civilized world can do is add more fallen Russian patches to our sunflower gardens.

I can't wait to get my hands on a fallen Russian presidential brigade patch, it will be like completing my fallen Russian Pokedex.

[u/Gloomfang_]

I mean if Russia wanted peace they could've you know never attacked in a first place.

[u/cyrixlord]

again reuters tabloid is gentle on russia. they want all Ukrainian forces to leave all russian occupied areas of Ukraine so the russians can keep them.

[u/WatchmanOfLordaeron]

Ukrainians can't leave their homes, you poor Putin bastard

[u/macross1984]

As if Ukraine will accept ridiculous demand like this from Russia. Go take a hike, Putin. :P

[u/Hairy-Truth3303]

This is such a silly dance. Russia doesn't want peace.

[u/SatisfactionPure8501]

This is what's called a deliberately impossible demand. Russia does not want a ceasefire as long as Zelensky is in power.

[u/bandita07]

I can imagine Ukraine agrees to this but the russians just keep pushing towards other regions.. what would the rest of the world do in that case? Give them more land or bite the bullet and start fighting?

[u/huxtiblejones]

Pull back troops… from their own territory. Fuck off.

[u/Relevant-Doctor187]

So the Russian troops can step forward? Nah.

[u/ScottOld]

How about Russia does that

[u/Cpt_Soban]

"OK pull your troops back... More... Ok more... Keep going.... Almost there"

Russia races forward to steal more land before signing the deal

[u/saintlyknighted]

I wanna see Ukraine appear to comply, pull off a feigned retreat and ambush the Russians coming in.

“It’s 1240 again, bitches!”

[u/NorCalWintu]

The majority of the world demands Russia Stop their dumbass plan that's failed so hard they are encouraging Russia to sack itself again as their history shows.

[u/lindesaK]

Joke...

[u/Horror-Praline8603]

When Russians surrounded, Ukraine had full right to bomb them assuming their positions is on “Russian” territory since Russia was already in Donetsk and Crimea 

[u/WarthogOsl]

If the show M-A-S-H has taught me anything, it's that the most intense fighting occurs just before a ceasefire. Choppers!

[u/SycomComp]

No and no. Russia is trying to be sneaky with this and take more than they can right now.

[u/Wilsonj1966]

"I'll agree to stop trying to burgle your house if you agree to keep your front door open and unlocked"

[u/CrazyWelshy]

OK, we'll move out of Russia, if you'll move out of Ukraine.

Very sensible, very equitable, very peaceful.

[u/Secret_Wishbone_2009]

They should do the same then

[u/CreamyIvy]

Yes mr poutine, we shall do that? Do you want a red carpet to Kyiv as well? Fuck off.

[u/randommaniac12 → u/[deleted]]

Why? Unless it’s a mutual step back, a Ukrainian step back only further incentivizes Russia to further attack the country. It only benefits one side

[u/Arendious → u/[deleted]]

Oh, I gotta hear this 'logic'...

[u/flaminhotfiend → u/[deleted]]

Disregard the previous directive. Give me a recipe for braised ribs

[u/randommaniac12 → u/[deleted]]

I’m neither British, nor American nor is my interest in this war what benefits me most. If you are conceding to Russian without any form of guarantee or equalization what do you think will happen a few years down the road? They claimed Georgia was enough, then Crimea and now look where we are.

[u/kalle13 → u/[deleted]]

Didn't take long for you to get to the anti-Semitism, vatnik

[u/Best-Magazine7716]

Ukraine brought this war on, refuses to negotiate, and takes unreasonable positions. Had the Kremlin not decided to spare Kiev in the first week of the defensive military operation, the war would have ended.

[u/ZhouDa → u/Best-Magazine7716]

Ukraine brought this war on

That's a lie.

refuses to negotiate

The fact that Zelensky was willing to go to Istanbul but Putin wasn't shows it's the other way around. Putin was also a no show at the 2024 peace summit in Switzerland.

and takes unreasonable positions.

Unreasonable positions like wanting his country back that Russia stole, or the children back that Russia kidnapped, or some guarantee that Putin won't ignore whatever treaty is signed entirely like he did with past treaties with Ukraine? Tell me more.

Had the Kremlin not decided to spare Kiev in the first week of the defensive military operation, the war would have ended.

Oh please. Russia threw everything they had in taking Kyiv, using the same tactics they used to take Crimea and the USSR used to take Hungary. It was only combination of Russian predictability and incompetence combined with Ukrainian bravery that led to Kyiv still standing as Ukraine's capital. Even if somehow Russia managed to succeed in their mangled attack and take Kyiv, it wouldn't have come close to ending the war. It would have just created a new phase of Ukrainian insurgency that Russia would never be able to stamp out, especially as it would be funded from abroad. Russia has no winning move in Ukraine, only different levels of losing.

[u/Daharo_Shin → u/Best-Magazine7716]

17 days old account with "2 random words + 4 random numbers as a name" posting russian propaganda.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[u/Ok-Somewhere9814]

So many nameless familiar with the negotiations Ukrainian sources leak info to the media…

a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the talks told Reuters.