Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated Russia's conditions for ending the conflict in Ukraine. During a trip to Kyrgyzstan, Putin indicated that military operations would cease if Ukrainian troops withdraw from territories claimed by Moscow. He affirmed that if such a withdrawal does not occur, Russia intends to achieve its objectives through military force.
The territories referenced by Putin include the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and the Donbas regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which are largely under Russian control. Russia has consistently sought legal recognition of these territories as part of its sovereign domain.
Diplomatic Engagements
Recent diplomatic efforts have involved a peace plan, reportedly drafted by American and Russian officials in October. This initial proposal underwent revisions. Putin confirmed that a new draft of the plan has been presented to Russia and could serve as a "basis" for a future agreement to end the war, noting the necessity of refining specific points into diplomatic language.
Regarding the possibility of Crimea and the Donbas being recognized as under de facto Russian control but without legal acknowledgment, Putin stated that this issue is a central point of discussion with American counterparts.
Upcoming Meetings
A US delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, is expected to visit Moscow in the coming week. US President Donald Trump had previously mentioned that Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, might accompany Witkoff. Separately, Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak is scheduled to host US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll in Kyiv later this week.
Earlier in the week, Trump indicated that only "a few remaining points of disagreement" existed between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting that a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to address these points would be contingent on a peace deal being reached.
Putin's Stance on Ukrainian Leadership and European Warnings
Putin expressed his view that the current Ukrainian leadership is illegitimate, stating that there was therefore "no use" in signing documents with them. Ukraine has been under martial law since February 2022, which has prevented scheduled elections. The Ukrainian parliament affirmed the legitimacy of President Zelensky earlier this year after his term in office concluded in spring.
Putin also dismissed warnings from European leaders about potential Russian aggression toward the European continent within the next decades, characterizing such concerns as "laughable."
International Reactions
The White House and Donald Trump have expressed optimism regarding the recent diplomatic push for peace talks. In contrast, European leaders have consistently conveyed skepticism about Russia's true intentions to end the conflict. On Wednesday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stated that Russia maintains a "post-World War Two mindset" and perceives the European continent as a "sphere of influence" where sovereign nations could be "carved up."