Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly conditions the end of the war in Ukraine on a written pledge from NATO and major Western powers to cease any further eastward expansion. This demand aligns with Putin's long-standing justification for Russian military aggression, citing NATO's growth as a security threat.
According to a Reuters report citing Russian sources, Putin insists that NATO membership must be off the table for Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and other former Soviet republics. Additionally, the demands include the neutrality of Ukraine, lifting of Western sanctions, resolution of frozen Russian assets, and protections for Russian-speaking populations within Ukraine.
One source described these terms as a 'take it or leave it' offer. Should the West reject these conditions, Putin is reportedly prepared to continue military operations in Ukraine to demonstrate that a harsher peace could result from prolonged conflict. This source also indicated that Russia is ready to endure the war for years despite existing sanctions.
Another source claimed Putin is now less willing to compromise on territory, seeking full control over the four Ukrainian regions Russia has claimed: Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
After recent talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Putin expressed willingness to draft a peace memorandum with Ukraine but emphasized that deep "root causes" must be addressed. These causes encompass demands such as formal recognition of annexed Ukrainian territories, removal of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration, constitutional limitations on Ukraine’s military, official status of the Russian language, and exclusion of Ukraine from NATO membership.
Putin's maximalist stance and insistence on these complex conditions suggest limited room for compromise in negotiations, underlining the protracted and challenging nature of the conflict resolution.