Vladimir Putin is open to discussing a ceasefire deal in Ukraine with Donald Trump, but is ruling out significant territorial concessions and insists that Kiev should abandon its ambitions to join NATO, five sources with knowledge of the talks told Reuters. thoughts of the Kremlin.
The US president-elect, who has vowed to quickly end the conflict, returns to the White House at a time when Russia appears strengthened. Moscow controls a chunk of Ukraine roughly the size of the US state of Virginia and is advancing at its fastest pace since the early days of the 2022 invasion.
What Moscow is reportedly asking for
In the first detailed account of what President Putin would accept in any deal brokered by Trump, the five current and former Russian officials said the Kremlin could broadly agree to freeze conflict along the front lines.
There may be room for negotiation over the exact division of the four eastern regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, according to three sources who asked not to be named.
While Moscow claims the four regions are entirely part of Russia, defended by the country’s nuclear umbrella, its forces on the ground control 70-80% of the territory, with about 26,000 square kilometers still under occupation. of Ukrainian troops, according to open source data from the front line.
Russia may also be open to withdrawing from the relatively small pieces of territory it holds in the Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions in northern and southern Ukraine, two of the officials said.
Putin said this month that any ceasefire deal would have to reflect “realities” on the ground, but that he feared a short-lived truce that would only allow the West to rearm Ukraine.
“If there is no neutrality, it is difficult to imagine the existence of good neighborly relations between Russia and Ukraine,” Putin told the Valdai discussion group on November 7.
“Why; Because that would mean that Ukraine would be constantly used as a tool in the wrong hands and against the interests of the Russian Federation.”
Two of the sources said outgoing US President Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to launch US ATACMS missiles deep into Russia could complicate and delay any settlement – and harden Moscow’s demands as hardliners push for a larger part of Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Kiev used the missiles to strike Russian territory for the first time, according to Moscow, which denounced the move as a major escalation. If a ceasefire is not agreed, the two sources said, then Russia will continue to fight.
“Putin has already said that freezing the conflict will not work in any way,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters hours before the Russians reported the ATACMS strikes. “And authorizing the missiles is a very dangerous escalation on the part of the United States.”
Ukraine’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Reuters report.
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**How might a Trump-brokered ceasefire agreement, even if it includes territorial concessions, impact the long-term stability and security of Ukraine and the region?**
## World Today News Exclusive Interview: Putin, Trump, and the Future of Ukraine
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today we are discussing the latest developments in the Ukraine conflict and the possibility of a ceasefire agreement brokered by former President Donald Trump. Joining us are two distinguished guests with deep expertise on the region:
* **Dr. Anya Ivanova**, Professor of International Relations at the University of Kyiv, specializing in Russian foreign policy and conflict resolution.
* **Mr. Michael Thompson**, Former US Ambassador to Ukraine and expert on US-Russia relations.
**Section 1: The Potential for a Trump-Brokered Ceasefire**
**Interviewer:**
Dr. Ivanova, the article suggests that Putin is open to discussing a ceasefire with Trump. What are your thoughts on the likelihood of such a deal, given the significant hurdles outlined in the article, such as territorial concessions and Ukraine’s NATO aspirations?
**Dr. Ivanova:**
**[Dr. Ivanova responds]**
Mr. Ambassador, you’ve been deeply involved in negotiations with Russia in the past. Do you see any realistic scenario where both sides, particularly Ukraine, would find the reported concessions acceptable?
**Mr. Thompson:**
**[Mr. Thompson responds]**
**Section 2: Russia’s Demands and Red Lines**
**Interviewer:**
The article highlights Russia’s insistence on Ukraine abandoning NATO aspirations and potentially accepting the annexation of territories currently under Russian control. Dr. Ivanova, how do these demands impact the possibility of a lasting peace agreement, particularly in light of Ukraine’s national sovereignty and self-determination?
**Dr. Ivanova:**
**[Dr. Ivanova responds]**
Mr. Ambassador, considering the current geopolitical landscape, do you believe Russia’s demands are negotiable? And how might the international community react to a potential deal that involves territorial concessions from Ukraine?
**Mr. Thompson:**
**[Mr. Thompson responds]**
**Section 3: The Impact of US Involvement and ATACMS Missiles**
**Interviewer:**
The article mentions President Biden’s decision to provide Ukraine with ATACMS missiles, which have reportedly been used to strike Russian territory. How might this development influence the negotiation process, and could it potentially escalate the conflict further?
**Mr. Thompson:**
**[Mr. Thompson responds]**
Dr. Ivanova, what are your thoughts on the implications of the ATACMS deployment on Ukraine’s negotiating position and its relationship with the United States?
**Dr. Ivanova:**
**[Dr. Ivanova responds]**
**Section 4: The Future of Ukraine and the Region**
**Interviewer:**
Looking beyond immediate negotiations, what are the potential long-term implications of this conflict on Ukraine’s future, its relationship with Russia, and the wider geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe?
**Dr. Ivanova:**
**[Dr. Ivanova responds]**
Mr. Thompson, what are your predictions for the future of the region, considering the complexities and diverging interests at play?
**Mr. Thompson:**
**[Mr. Thompson responds]**
**Interviewer:**
We appreciate your insightful perspectives on this critical issue. The situation in Ukraine remains dynamic and complex, and the possibilities for a peaceful resolution are continuously evolving.
