Budanov declines to disclose if Russia is demanding withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas

At a press conference held after the second day of negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia in Abu Dhabi, journalists asked whether the Russian position regarding the need for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from Donbas remains in place. Kyrylo Budanov did not give a direct answer to this question, limiting himself to a general statement that only the result of the negotiations matters.

"Only the result is important"

According to Budanov, the issues raised during the negotiations remain an internal matter of those discussions. "Look, the issues raised during the negotiations are a matter of the negotiations themselves. Only the result is important. When we achieve it, it will be announced publicly," he stated when responding to a question about the Russian side's demands regarding Donbas. Thus, no public information on whether Moscow is insisting on Ukraine's withdrawal from the region was provided at the time of the press conference.

Context: Second day of negotiations in Abu Dhabi

Budanov's response came against the backdrop of the ongoing negotiation track between Ukraine, the US, and Russia. The second day of consultations in Abu Dhabi prompted journalistic questions about the key territorial demands of the parties, particularly regarding the status of Donbas. Budanov himself did not disclose details of the discussion and neither confirmed nor denied the continuation of the Russian demand for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the region.

Further agenda: US special representatives' visit to Moscow

As previously reported, US presidential special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to arrive in Moscow on November 12 for a meeting with Vladimir Putin. Following this visit, they intend to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This sequence of contacts indicates that the negotiation process between the three parties is also continuing in the format of bilateral meetings.

Prisoner exchange and the border issue

In parallel, Russia announced an agreement on a large prisoner exchange. According to the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, the details of this agreement will be released later. Separately, according to The Telegraph, Kyiv rejected a new US proposal on borders which allegedly would have allowed Russia to claim full control over the frontline in Donbas without transferring cities held by the Defense Forces. These reports form the general backdrop against which Budanov refused to comment on specific territorial demands.