Putin Offers U.S. a Compromise: Possibility of Ending the War in Exchange for Territorial Concessions and International Recognition
According to information published by The Wall Street Journal, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made an overt proposal to U.S.
authorities: he is willing to cease hostilities in Ukraine if certain conditions are met, including territorial concessions and international recognition of Russian claims.
It is reported that during a private discussion with Trump advisor Steve Vitkoff, Putin stated his readiness to agree to a full ceasefire provided Ukraine withdraws its troops from the eastern regions of Donetsk.
Putin has indicated that in such a scenario, Russia would control the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014 and considers its sovereign territory.
European and Ukrainian officials, informed of these negotiations during phone calls with Trump and Vitkoff, expressed serious concerns.
They suspect that the Kremlin has no genuine intentions to negotiate, instead using this proposal as a tactical move to avoid new harsh sanctions from the U.S.
They believe Putin may be leveraging this initiative to weaken international pressure, maintaining control over key Ukrainian territories if the conflict remains unresolved.
The proposal involves two stages: the first includes Ukraine’s withdrawal of troops from Donetsk and a freeze on military actions, while the second involves finalizing a peace plan through bilateral agreements with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump acknowledged that Putin’s initiative is not a breakthrough but considers it an attractive starting point for preparing a possible upcoming summit with the Kremlin leader.
Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized that discussions on territorial issues will only happen after a full and unconditional ceasefire from Russia.
Notably, Putin’s offer does not include security guarantees for Ukraine or its NATO membership aspirations, which Kyiv and allied nations critique heavily.
As part of the proposed plan, Russia has also announced its intention to pass a law committing to not attacking Ukraine or Europe, though European policymakers remain deeply skeptical about the real motives behind this move.
Analysts suggest that Putin’s maneuver may be partly aimed at increasing domestic pressure on Zelensky, as many Ukrainians desire an end to the war but oppose significant territorial concessions.
The proposal thus risks putting pressure on Kyiv to enter negotiations and allows Moscow to bypass new U.S.
sanctions.
The background to this situation includes Trump’s August statement that a territorial exchange might be expected in any peace agreement concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
There is also information about an upcoming summit planned between Trump and Putin, potentially taking place next week.
Diplomatic circles are carefully watching how these high-stakes negotiations will unfold, with many doubts about the true willingness of the parties to reach a lasting resolution.