Putin Proposes Stopping Ukraine Invasion at Current Front Line, FT Reports

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed halting his invasion of Ukraine along the current front line in an effort to reach a peace deal with US President Donald Trump, according to individuals familiar with the discussions.

In an article published by the Financial Times on April 22, it was reported that during a meeting earlier this month in St. Petersburg with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, Putin indicated that Moscow could relinquish its claims over certain parts of four partially occupied Ukrainian regions still under Kyiv’s control.

In turn, the United States has floated the possibility of recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea as part of a broader peace settlement, as well as acknowledging Russia’s de facto control over the parts of the four regions it currently holds.

The proposal represents the first formal indication from Putin that Russia may scale back its maximalist demands since the war’s early stages in 2022. However, European officials briefed on the matter have raised concerns that Putin might use this apparent concession to pressure Trump into accepting Russia’s other demands, forcing them on Ukraine as a fait accompli.

“There is a lot of pressure on Kyiv right now to give up on things so Trump can claim victory,” one European official said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials are scheduled to meet with US and European representatives in London on Wednesday to discuss these proposals. However, Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have since pulled out of the meeting, according to US and European officials. Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is still expected to attend.

Putin’s foreign policy adviser stated that Witkoff would visit Moscow later this week.

In his comments, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that negotiations are ongoing but emphasized that the discussions are complex and will take time to resolve.

“Tense work is under way,” Peskov said. “We are talking to the Americans. The work is difficult and takes a lot of time, so it is difficult to expect immediate results, and the work cannot be done in public.”

On Sunday, Trump expressed optimism about the possibility of a peace deal, stating on social media that he hoped Ukraine and Russia would “make a deal this week” and start engaging in business with the United States.

Previous Russian demands have included a pledge from Ukraine to remain neutral, renounce NATO membership, and provide recognition of Russia’s territorial claims, alongside sanctions relief for Moscow and a reduction of NATO’s military presence near Russian borders.

In related news, during a press briefing on April 22, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia in any format once a ceasefire is in place.

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