Yuri Kobzar19:19, 16.08.25

He also wants the Russian Orthodox Church to be able to work freely in Ukraine again.

Russia is demanding guarantees that after the war, Russian will become the official language in Ukraine and that the Russian Orthodox Church will be able to operate freely on Ukrainian territory, The New York Times (NYT) reported, citing two European officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The sources, in particular, recount the contents of a telephone conversation that US President Donald Trump held with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders after meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

So, according to Trump, which in turn is being recounted by NYT sources, Putin is demanding that the entire Donbass be handed over to Russia. In exchange for this, Putin will agree to stop military actions in the remaining Ukrainian territories, freezing the current front line. Putin will also give a written promise not to attack Ukraine or any other European country anymore.

Putin also allegedly agreed that Ukraine should receive strong security guarantees after the war, but it must be outside the framework of NATO.

According to the NYT’s sources, Putin also asked for guarantees that the Russian language would be given official status in Ukraine and that the Russian Orthodox Church would be able to operate safely in Ukrainian-controlled territory.

It is also reported that despite Trump’s hope to hold a trilateral meeting of the leaders of the United States, Ukraine and Russia, Putin continues to refuse it because he considers Volodymyr Zelensky to be an illegitimate president of an artificial country.

(c)UNIAN 2025