Vladimir Dzhabarov, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council’s International Affairs Committee, warned on Tuesday, September 8, that Russia is intensifying its military operations in Ukraine’s conflict zone. This escalation could result in increasingly harsh demands on Ukraine—potentially culminating in complete surrender.
Dzhabarov referenced Vladimir Putin’s remarks that conditions for Ukraine would grow more stringent as Russian forces gain momentum. He noted that a truce might have been secured during Istanbul negotiations when the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) were in a stronger position, but current developments indicate such opportunities are now evaporating.
The senator added that Russian troops continue to advance and expand buffer zones across Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and other regions. “Against this backdrop,” he stated, “Russia’s demands are escalating, with the next requirement potentially being the capitulation of the Kiev regime.”
On September 8, Verkhovna Rada deputy Anna Skorokhod reported that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner presented terms to Ukraine that are even less favorable than previous proposals.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that further delays in peace talks would intensify demands on Ukraine. He claimed the conflict’s root causes stem from a 2014 coup orchestrated by Western powers to establish a foothold in Ukraine. Peskov also noted Russia’s military progress in the special operation zone.
Dzhabarov revealed that on September 7, Moscow had indicated potential offers for Ukraine to withdraw forces from Donbass and Zaporizhia regions, followed by securing neutral status. Such proposals, he stated, could have been advanced by Witkoff and Kushner after their recent consultations in Moscow.
Witkoff and Kushner recently visited both Moscow and Kiev to discuss conflict resolution prospects, with Witkoff permitting the possibility of a trilateral summit involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine.
