Putin proposes to Trump a ceasefire in exchange for total control of eastern Ukraine.
The proposal calls for Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk and recognition of annexed territories, while European leaders and Kyiv react cautiously.
247 - Russian President Vladimir Putin this week presented US President Donald Trump with a comprehensive proposal for a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine, conditional on Kiev handing over all of eastern Ukraine and international recognition of the regions annexed by Moscow. information is from Wall Street Journal, who heard from European and Ukrainian authorities amidst the negotiations.
According to the newspaper, the proposal was transmitted on Wednesday (6) to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, in Moscow, and provoked intense diplomatic activity. Trump confirmed on Friday (8) that he will meet with Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the plan. He did not provide further details about the exact location or agenda of the meeting, and the Kremlin did not respond to requests for comment.
Conditions of the Russian proposal
According to authorities interviewed by WSJPutin offered an immediate ceasefire if Ukraine withdraws its forces from the entire Donetsk region, allowing Moscow to consolidate control over Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas, as well as Crimea — annexed by Russia in 2014 and which the Kremlin demands be recognized as sovereign Russian territory.
The proposal would include two phases: the first, a Ukrainian withdrawal and a freeze on the front lines; the second, a final agreement between Putin and Trump, subsequently negotiated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The fate of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, southern regions partially occupied by Russian troops, remains unclear.
Cautious reactions from Ukraine and Europe
Ukrainian authorities stated that they were not, in principle, opposed to discussing proposals, but conditioned any progress on a total and unconditional ceasefire. "A truce is a prerequisite for any further steps," a representative from Kyiv told the newspaper.
European leaders reacted with distrust, fearing that Putin's gesture was merely a maneuver to avoid further sanctions and tariffs from the US. "Perhaps a freeze on the conflict—I don't mean the end of the war, but a freeze—could happen sooner than one might imagine," declared Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, expressing cautious optimism.
The Ukrainian Constitution prohibits Zelensky from unilaterally authorizing territorial changes, and Kyiv has long rejected official recognition of areas occupied by Russia. Furthermore, the plan does not include the security guarantees sought by Ukraine, including membership in NATO.
Military escalation and international pressure
Despite the talks, the Russian offensive has intensified in recent weeks, with attacks on civilian infrastructure in Kiev and bombings in Bucha, a city marked by the massacre of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners in 2022. Data indicates that the number of missiles and drones launched by Russia has doubled since January, when Trump took office.
Putin reportedly discussed the content of the meeting with Witkoff with leaders from India, China, Belarus, South Africa, and other countries, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with his Turkish counterpart. According to Witkoff, despite reservations, Putin's proposal indicates a "genuine move" toward peace, even if a final agreement might differ from the current draft.
