Putin described the U.S. proposal as “a set of issues put forward for discussion,” not a final agreement, and said Russia remains committed to seeing the contested regions internationally recognised as Russian territory. He stated that hostilities would cease only if Kyiv complied; “If they don’t, we will achieve this by military force,” he warned.
He dismissed the legitimacy of Ukraine’s current leadership, saying any deal signed with Kyiv would be “pointless,” and insisted that future negotiations should involve the United States, not Ukrainian officials. The demands include full withdrawal from the eastern and southern regions claimed by Moscow including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia a condition swiftly rejected by Kyiv.
Moscow controls about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory. The territorial question remains the core obstacle blocking any cease-fire or peace agreement.
In response to Putin’s pronouncements, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow next week to advance diplomatic efforts, while Ukrainian and U.S. officials plan further consultations in Kyiv. European leaders and Kyiv’s government have voiced strong scepticism, saying any peace process must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty not demand its dismemberment.
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Putin’s stance underscores a sharp divergence between Western-led peace diplomacy and Russia’s maximalist territorial ambitions. As the world watches, the path to ending the conflict remains tightly hostage to Moscow’s demands.
