Russia claims to have seized control of the entire Luhansk region – as Kremlin demands Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk to end ‘hot war’

Russia claimed to have taken control of the entire Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine.

The region is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia will claim as its own in 2022. The move was rejected by Kyiv and Western allies as an illegal land grab.

It comes as Vladimir Putin increased pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskiy, demanding Ukraine immediately withdraw from the remaining territory it controls in Donetsk in exchange for ending the ‘hot phase’ of the war.

The Russian monarch authorized his spokesman Dmitry Peskov to publicly insist on Ukraine’s surrender.

“Theoretically, Zelensky should have made this decision yesterday,” Peskov said.

‘As we said, he should have taken responsibility and made this difficult decision.

‘This could save many lives and, most importantly, allow us to stop the hot phase of this war.’

Firefighters work at the mail distribution center of the Nova Post company, which was attacked by a Russian drone during Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Lutsk, Ukraine, on April 1.

Picture: Smoke rises into the sky after a Russian drone attack in Lutsk, Ukraine, on April 1

Ukraine refuses to surrender the remaining one-fifth of the Donbass it controls and believes Putin will use this now or in the future as a springboard to invade not only Ukraine but perhaps Europe as well.

Putin’s threat came in response to Zelensky’s statement that the Kremlin had given Ukraine a two-month deadline to withdraw its troops from Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, or it would face harsher conditions in a possible peace agreement.

Peskov said the Americans cannot get involved in a peace agreement right now because they are ‘preoccupied with the situation in the Middle East.’

‘As for two months, it’s not a matter of two months. Zelensky must make a decision today to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Donbas.

‘And leave, go beyond the administrative borders of the Donetsk People’s Republic. This has been stated many times.’

Ukraine refuses to surrender the remaining one-fifth of the Donbass it controls, believing Putin will use this as a springboard to further invade not only Ukraine but perhaps Europe as well, now or in the future.

Zelensky said, “We are ready for a ceasefire where we are.”

‘This is a strong compromise position to move towards a diplomatic solution.’

Russia could accept this and immediately stop the four-year war.

Putin rejects this because he fears it will publicly humiliate him and his military for failing to make significant gains against a much smaller Ukraine.

The United States wants the war in Ukraine to end, but trilateral talks have been stalled due to the conflict in the Gulf.

“For obvious reasons, they are currently unable to actively participate in trilateral negotiations on Ukrainian issues,” Peskov said, while demanding Zelensky bow down and give up territory as the price of ending the war.

Putin began occupying Donbas in 2014, but failed to capture the entire region in 12 years.