Russian President Vladimir Putin said a US plan to end the war in Ukraine could “form the basis for a future agreement” but reiterated his threat to seize more territory by force if Kiev does not withdraw.
President Putin confirmed to reporters Thursday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, that the Kremlin expects a U.S. delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff to visit Moscow early next week, adding that the Kremlin is ready for “serious discussions.”
However, with President Putin repeating his maximalist demands and saying that the war in Ukraine will end only “withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the occupied territories,” a quick resolution seems unlikely.
“If they do not withdraw, we will achieve this by military means,” the Russian leader said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his delegation would also meet with U.S. officials by the end of this week to discuss the points raised in Geneva. Zelenskiy added in an evening video address that there would be “important negotiations not only for the delegation but also for me personally” next week, without giving details.
Russia occupies about 20% of the territory recognized as part of sovereign Ukraine under international law, including almost all of the Luhansk region and parts of the Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions.
The Russian government is demanding that Ukraine surrender all four regions it has annexed but has not fully conquered.
Russia has made some advances on Ukraine’s eastern front in recent weeks, most notably around the city of Pokrovsk.
Still, the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based conflict monitor, said Thursday that data on the speed of Russian military advances shows that “Russian military victory in Ukraine is inevitable and Russia’s rapid capture of the remainder of Donetsk oblast is not imminent.”
Importantly, the area Russia is claiming includes a “fortified zone” of heavily defended towns and cities deemed essential to Ukraine’s security. Kiev and its European allies have made it clear that territorial concessions are a red line they cannot cross.
Putin’s comments on Thursday were the strongest indication Russia has no intention of moving, after U.S. officials, including Trump himself, touted “tremendous progress” in efforts to end the war.
This came after Ukrainian and European officials strongly opposed and revised a 28-point peace plan drafted by the United States, apparently with strong input from Russia.
The original plan reflected an extensive list of Russian demands, including calls for Ukraine to reduce its forces and bar its membership in NATO.
President Putin said Thursday that Witkov will arrive in Moscow early next week to possibly discuss a new draft of the plan, although its exact wording is not yet known.
President Putin said he had been informed of the recent talks and that the plan “could become the basis for a future agreement.”
Putin added: “It would be rude to talk about the final agreement now.”
