Putin proposes ceasefire deal along current Ukrainian front line
Vladimir Putin reportedly offered to halt the invasion of Ukraine along the current front line, according to the "Financial Times," which cited individuals familiar with negotiations conducted by Donald Trump's representatives with Russian officials. In exchange, the Americans proposed recognizing the annexation of Crimea.
During a meeting with Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in St. Petersburg in early April, Putin reportedly made the offer to stop the invasion at the current front line, the "Financial Times" reported.
According to the newspaper's sources, Moscow also suggested it might give up its claims to those parts of Ukraine that remain under Kyiv's control.
Recall that the Russians illegally annexed the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions through a referendum and are demanding that Ukraine cede these territories, although Moscow does not fully control them.
As noted by the "FT," this is the first indication that Putin is willing to compromise on his maximalist demands for ending the invasion.
Following Putin’s proposal, the Americans began presenting their ideas for a possible settlement. These include, among others, recognizing the annexation of Crimea and at least acknowledging Kremlin control over the occupied regions of Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the newspaper that intensive work is currently underway on the agreement. He explained that negotiations with the American side are ongoing, describing the process as complex and time-consuming. According to him, immediate results are unlikely, and the discussions cannot be conducted publicly.
European officials are not pleased with this turn of events. They told the "FT" that, in their opinion, Putin will use what appears to be a concession to lure Trump into accepting other Russian demands.
According to one of the "Financial Times" sources, Kyiv is facing significant pressure to make certain concessions, allowing Trump to present the outcome as a personal victory.
The Ukrainians plan to meet on Wednesday in London with representatives from Europe and the USA to discuss the proposals for ending the conflict. However, neither Witkoff nor Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in the talks. Trump’s representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, will be present.
Senior Ukrainian officials told the "FT" that they are open to accepting some of the ideas presented by Trump and his team, without specifying which ones they are considering.
The US proposals for Ukraine reportedly include the deployment of a European peacekeeping contingent in the country, as well as separate military forces from outside NATO to help monitor the ceasefire along a demilitarized zone spanning over a 1,000-kilometre front line.
According to the potential agreement, Ukraine would commit not to retake by force the territory occupied by Russia, while Russia would agree to stop advancing its forces.
