Russia rejects compromise in Ukraine talks, insisting on “Anchorage formula” that demands full control of Donbas region.
Moscow Considers “Anchorage Formula”
Two-day peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US are set to begin on Friday (January 23) in Abu Dhabi. According to Sky News, informal negotiations are already underway before the scheduled trilateral meeting.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that he knows nothing about Russian delegation talks with Ukrainians or Americans.
Russia’s Demands for Donbas
For Volodymyr Zelensky, the key issue remains Donbas. Peskov commented: “Russia’s position is well known: Ukraine and its armed forces must leave the territory of Donbas. They must be withdrawn from there. This is a very important condition.”
According to Reuters, Moscow is considering the “Anchorage formula,” which likely refers to talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on August 15, 2025, in Alaska.
Details of the Anchorage Formula
The next day after the Alaska talks, the US president informed Zelensky and European leaders about Moscow’s demands regarding Donbas. Russia wants control over the entire region and freezing the current front lines elsewhere in eastern and southern Ukraine.
When asked if the “Anchorage formula” meant Russia taking full control of Donbas, Peskov responded: “Of course we don’t want to publicly go into details of the provisions being discussed, so I can’t say what the ‘Anchorage formula’ means. We consider it inappropriate.”
Kremlin Diplomat Confirms Formula’s Importance
Kremlin diplomat Yuri Ushakov also spoke about the “formula from Anchorage,” stating: “During our president’s talks with the American side, it was reiterated that without resolving the territorial issue according to the formula agreed in Anchorage, there is no chance of achieving a lasting solution.”
Attacks on Ukrainian Infrastructure Continue
The Russian army continues attacks on critical infrastructure objects in many regions. The most difficult situation is in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions.
“Today was the most difficult day for the Ukrainian energy system since the November 2022 outage,” wrote Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal on Telegram on Thursday, January 22.
Vitaliy Klitschko informed that 16% of residential blocks in Kyiv – 1,940 buildings – remain without heating.
