Putin Signals Truce Only If Ukraine Gives Up Land

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia would halt its military campaign in Ukraine only if Kyiv withdrew from territories claimed by Moscow, warning that otherwise his forces would seize them by force.

Russian troops have been steadily advancing across eastern Ukraine, pushing through heavily contested areas as Ukrainian forces face shortages in manpower and ammunition.

Meanwhile, Washington has renewed its effort to end the nearly four-year conflict, presenting a surprise proposal it hopes to refine through upcoming talks with both Moscow and Kyiv.

“If Ukrainian forces leave the territories they occupy, we will stop combat operations,” Putin said during a visit to Kyrgyzstan. “If they do not, we will achieve this by military means.”

Russia currently holds roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory. The question of these occupied lands—territory Kyiv has repeatedly said it will never surrender—remains one of the main obstacles to any peace agreement.

Another major sticking point is Ukraine’s demand for strong Western security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.

Washington’s initial plan, drafted without consultation from European partners, reportedly required Ukrainian forces to withdraw from parts of the Donetsk region while the United States would effectively recognise Donetsk, Crimea and Lugansk as Russian territory.

Following criticism from Kyiv and European capitals, the United States has revised the plan, though the updated version has not yet been released.

Putin, who has reviewed the new proposal, said it could serve as a foundation for negotiations, but stressed that Moscow still expects international recognition of the territories it occupies.

Ukraine, however, remains firm. Presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak told The Atlantic that Kyiv will not give up any land. “As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us ceding territory,” he said. “All we can realistically discuss now is defining the line of contact.”

US envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Moscow next week to discuss the revised proposal, while US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is due to visit Kyiv later this week.

Putin also repeated his claim that Russian forces have encircled Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk and Myrnograd in the Donetsk region, describing the fighting there as the fiercest of the war. He said Moscow’s forces were also advancing in Vovchansk, Siversk and moving closer to Guliaipole, a key logistical hub.

“The Russian offensive is practically impossible to stop, so there is little that can be done about it,” Putin said.

Ukraine has rejected claims of encirclement, insisting its forces continue to hold defensive positions along the front.

Putin also questioned President Volodymyr Zelensky’s legitimacy, saying it would be “almost impossible” to sign any binding agreement with him—remarks that have been met with strong criticism from Kyiv and its Western allies.

Data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), analysed by AFP, shows that Russian forces have captured an average of 467 square kilometres each month in 2025—an increase from territorial gains recorded in 2024.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. The war has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.