Ahead of anticipated talks with US officials in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin has starkly outlined his conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, insisting that Russia will only cease fire if Ukrainian forces fully withdraw from the four regions it claims to have annexed.
Putin’s demands, which include the recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and the occupied parts of the Donbas, were immediately rejected by Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of scorning genuine peace efforts, while Kyiv views ceding territory as an unacceptable reward for aggression.
The diplomatic flurry follows discussions around a US-drafted peace plan. While Putin acknowledged a revised version could form a “basis” for future agreement, he emphasized the need to finalize “specific points,” notably the status of the occupied territories. He confirmed a US delegation would soon visit Moscow to discuss these issues.
The gulf between the two sides remains vast. Putin repeated his view that Russia has the battlefield initiative and is prepared to fight “to the last Ukrainian” if its demands are not met. He also dismissed the legitimacy of Ukraine’s government, claiming there was “no use” in signing any documents with them. This contrasts with White House optimism, as European leaders remain deeply skeptical of Putin’s true intentions, warning he sees Europe as a “sphere of influence” to be carved up.
By James Kisoo
