Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to discussions with Trump on a ceasefire deal in Ukraine, but rules out making major territorial concessions and insists Kiev abandon its ambitions to join NATO, five sources told Reuters.
In the first detailed report on what Putin would accept in any deal brokered by Trump, the five current and former Russian officials said the Kremlin could agree to a general freeze on the frontline conflict.
There may be room for negotiation over the exact division of the four eastern regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson, according to three of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.
While Moscow claims the four regions are fully part of Russia, protected by the country’s nuclear umbrella, its forces on the ground control 70-80 percent of the roughly 26,000 square kilometer territory still held by Ukrainian troops, analysis by the front line.
Russia may also be ready to withdraw from the relatively small swaths of territory it holds in the Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions in northern and southern Ukraine, two of the officials said.
Sources said Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to launch US ATACMS missiles deep into Russia could complicate and delay any settlement – and bolster Moscow’s demands as hardliners push for more of Ukraine.
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World-Today News: Good day, Mr. X and Ms. Y. Thank you for joining us today. We have some exciting news regarding the escalating conflict in Ukraine, as President Putin has expressed his willingness to engage in discussions with President Trump about a potential ceasefire. Can you tell us more about these developments and what they could mean for the future of the conflict?
Ms. Y: Well, it’s a positive step forward that both leaders are open to negotiations. However, it’s important to note that Putin has ruled out any major territorial concessions and maintained that Ukraine must abandon its aspirations to join NATO. This suggests that the discussions will be challenging, but they could potentially lead to a general freeze of the conflict.
Mr. X: Absolutely. The Russian President’s insistence on not making significant concessions might indicate a hard-line approach, but there are indications of potential flexibility on other fronts. The sources suggest that Russia may be open to negotiations regarding the exact division of the four eastern regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson, which may indicate an area where compromise could be reached.
World-Today News: That’s interesting. Can you explain further about the potential division of these regions?
Ms. Y: According to the sources, Moscow might be willing to discuss the division of these regions in a way that takes into account the reality on the ground, meaning that the control over the territories held by Ukrainian forces could be recognized. However, it’s unclear how this could be achieved without major concessions from both sides.
Mr. X: Exactly. It’s important to keep in mind that these discussions are still in the early stages, and many details need to be worked out. One possibility is that some form of federative system could be established where these regions enjoy a certain level of autonomy while remaining part of Ukraine. This would help ensure that Russia’s security concerns are addressed while also maintaining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
World-Today News: Switching gears slightly, let’s talk about the impact of US ATACMS missiles on the conflict. Can you discuss how Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use these missiles could affect the negotiations and
