Russia demands NATO withdrawal from Poland and Baltics in peace talks

Russia has reintroduced pre-2022 invasion demands in Ukraine peace talks, including withdrawing NATO troops to 1997 positions, according to a document shared at Abu Dhabi negotiations. The proposal targets Western military presence in Poland and the Baltics. The Kremlin's demands include halting Western arms supplies to Ukraine, limiting nuclear protection for European states, and barring NATO expansion. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected the conditions as a direct threat to Poland's security. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Putin in Moscow, urging Russia to offer concrete de-escalation measures. They stressed that no agreement can be reached without European participation in negotiations.