Axios writes that Trump did not support Putin’s demand to withdraw Ukrainian forces from Donbas, and the Russian president dropped it

Against the backdrop of numerous Western media reports claiming that U.S. President Donald Trump, in his Saturday conversation with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials, supported Vladimir Putin’s demand for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk region, Axios has published contradictory information.

The outlet, citing sources, writes that Trump did not support Putin’s demand and, moreover, that the Russian president has already dropped it.

According to the article, the American president was ready to end his meeting with Putin in Alaska if the latter continued to insist on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from all of Donetsk region.

“If it’s about Donetsk and if there are no concessions, we shouldn’t extend this,” Axios quoted Trump as saying. According to the report, after these words Putin supposedly abandoned his demand.

At the same time, this statement contradicts the reporting of other media outlets.

Neither Putin nor Trump has officially confirmed such a demand regarding the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas as a condition for a peace agreement.

Earlier, the European Union officially stated that during the Alaska meeting, Putin had indeed proposed the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk region.