Russian President Vladimir Putin has told U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff that Moscow would agree to halt the war if Ukraine fully withdraws its forces from the eastern Donetsk region, according to European and Ukrainian officials.
In a meeting in Moscow last Wednesday, Putin outlined a peace proposal under which Ukraine would cede the entire Donbas region to Russia in return for a full ceasefire. The plan, reported by The Wall Street Journal, marks a partial retreat from Russia’s earlier demands for control over all territory along the front line, beyond Donbas.
Under the proposal, Russia would retain Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea—annexed in 2014. While Russian forces already control most of Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukraine still holds key cities and fortifications.
European leaders have sought clarity on the fate of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, where Russian troops hold parts of both regions. A U.S. official said Putin’s offer appears aimed at freezing the war along current lines, followed by negotiations over a land swap to give Russia full control of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. It remains unclear what territory Ukraine would receive in return.
Former President Donald Trump recently suggested a potential deal could involve “mutual territorial exchanges.” His vice president, JD Vance, met with Ukrainian and European officials in the UK on Saturday to discuss peace efforts.
According to Reuters, European representatives at the Moscow talks presented a counterproposal calling for a ceasefire before any territorial negotiations, with strong security guarantees.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated last night that Kyiv will not cede any land, saying, “Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.”
Russia claims Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea as its territory, though it does not fully control all four regions. The U.S. and Russian presidents are expected to meet in Alaska on the 15th of this month to discuss ending the nearly three-year war.
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