Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to end his war against Ukraine along the current front line, the "Financial Times" reports. The publication cites several sources familiar with the negotiations between American representatives and Moscow. According to them, Putin told Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff that the Kremlin would give up its claims to parts of the occupied four Ukrainian regions that are currently under Kiev's control.
In return, however, Moscow will ask Washington to recognize Crimea as Russian. The peninsula was occupied in 2014 and illegally annexed after a referendum on joining the Russian Federation that was not recognized by international institutions. In addition, Moscow will want the US to recognize at least de facto Russian control over the occupied areas of Ukraine.
Is Putin trying to play Trump?
With this proposal, Putin is signaling for the first time since the start of the war that he is willing to make a deal, albeit under certain conditions.
According to European leaders quoted by the "Financial Times", Putin will probably use this move to play the US president and force him to insist that Ukraine agree to all the conditions set by Russia.
A meeting between representatives of Ukraine, European countries and the US was to be held in London today. But late last night, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he would not attend. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy was caught off guard by Rubio's sudden decision not to show up. The increasing amount of information leaks, apparently from the US and Russia, are clearly aimed at undermining the discussions and promoting the idea that the most important discussions are those taking place directly between Washington and Moscow, writes "The Guardian".
Trump wants to reach an agreement as soon as possible
At the end of last week, Trump and Rubio made comments that the US would withdraw from its mediation role between Russia and Ukraine if it did not see progress. The next day, Vladimir Putin announced an "Easter truce", which, however, was repeatedly violated in the hours that followed. According to the EU High Representative Kaia Kallas, this was just a trick on the part of Putin to keep Trump from losing patience. According to Kallas, the US is not using all the tools at its disposal to put pressure on Russia.
The sources of "Financial Times” also claim that there is currently great pressure on Ukraine to agree to American conditions for a peace agreement so that Trump can declare himself the winner. Among these demands is that Kiev recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russia, writes "The New York Times", citing its sources.
What is the US proposing?
The proposals of the US negotiators for a ceasefire include sending a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine, made up of European military personnel - the idea is that they will be deployed along the entire current front line, which is more than 1,000 kilometers long. The US proposes that these forces work together with the Ukrainian and Russian militaries to ensure that the ceasefire is respected. The US is also proposing that Kiev agree not to retake territories occupied by Russia, and that Moscow not continue its slow offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready for talks with Russia when the fire stops, but there is no way Ukraine will recognize Crimea. "There is nothing to discuss", he stressed. "This contradicts our Constitution."
Russia has also directly opposed some of the US proposals, including the deployment of a military contingent of NATO countries in Ukraine. However, people familiar with the negotiations say that Putin is prepared to eventually back down from his initial desire for full control over the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, which he illegally annexed following the example of Crimea. In return, however, the US will have to make concessions - such as recognizing Crimea and banning Ukraine from joining NATO.