Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the US plan to end the war in Ukraine could be the “basis for future agreements,” but he simultaneously also warned that Russia will take more territory by force if Kyiv doesn’t pull back. He also added that there is no final version of the US plan yet.
Putin ready for ‘serious discussion’ with Witkoff
Speaking to reporters in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Thursday, Putin confirmed the Kremlin expects a US team led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to visit Moscow early next week. He said the Kremlin is ready for “serious discussion.” However, a quick resolution looks unlikely after Putin repeated his hardline terms, saying the war will only end once the Ukranian forces pull back from the areas that they occupy.
“If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this through military means,” Putin said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his delegation will also meet US officials by the end of this week to discuss the points raised in Geneva. In his nightly video message, Zelensky said next week will bring “important negotiations not only for our delegation, but also for me personally,” without revealing anymore details.
Kremlin pushes for more control
Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory, including nearly all of Luhansk and parts of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, according to CNN.
Moscow now wants Ukraine to give up all four regions, even though Russian forces do not fully control them on the ground.
In recent weeks, Russia has moved forward along parts of the eastern frontline, with the biggest progress near Pokrovsk. But the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based research group, said its latest data shows Russian victory is far from certain and that a quick takeover of the remaining areas in Donetsk is unlikely, the CNN report said.
What’s noteworthy is that the regions Russia wants include a chain of strongly fortified towns and cities which are considered essential for Ukraine’s defence. Kyiv and its European partners have repeatedly said they will not agree to give up any of this land.
Russia not willing to move?
Putin’s comments on Thursday were his clearest sign yet that Russia is not ready to shift its position, even though US officials, including Trump, have been saying they are making strong progress toward ending the war.
His remarks came after Ukrainian and European leaders first rejected and then pushed for changes to a 28-point peace plan prepared by the US, which seemed heavily shaped by Russia’s interests.
The original proposal included major demands from Moscow, such as limiting the size of Ukraine’s armed forces and blocking Ukraine from joining NATO.
Putin said he expects Steve Witkoff to arrive in Moscow early next week, likely to talk about the revised version of the plan, though the exact details are still not publicly known.
He said he has been updated on the latest talks and believes the new plan could serve as a starting point for future agreements.
He added that it would be inappropriate for him to talk as if any final deal has already been reached.