Putin calls shift in U.S. stance on Ukraine after talks with Europe a ‘weakness’

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a closed-door meeting with major business leaders that Moscow continues to demand control over Donbas in talks with the United States on Ukraine.

Putin referred to agreements reached in Anchorage and said Russia remains ready to make concessions previously approved by him.

He added that the Kramatorsk–Kostiantynivka–Sloviansk area was “not up for discussion,” though he did not rule out the possibility of a partial territorial exchange.

Putin described a change in the U.S. position on Ukraine following consultations with European countries as a “weakness,” Kommersant reported.