Russia Demands Finland Leave NATO, Moldova Split in Ukraine Talks

Russian negotiators reportedly demanded Finland's withdrawal from NATO and the division of Moldova into three parts as conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, according to German newspaper Bild, though the Kremlin denied the claims. The demands were allegedly made during trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. European leaders expressed concern over the reported maximalist Russian positions, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz telling the US to "stop surprises" and work as a team with Europe and Ukraine. The reports emerged ahead of a potential Trump-Putin bilateral meeting scheduled for November 19 in Shenzhen. US envoy Jared Kushner stated both sides agreed to expand the next negotiation round to include European partners, addressing broader post-war European security arrangements. Merz emphasized that the 1975 Helsinki accords already guarantee every country's right to choose its own alliances, arguing Russia destroyed that order.