BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN—Just days before a high-stakes American delegation is due to arrive in Moscow for renewed peace talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has dramatically doubled down on his most extreme demands, declaring that Russia will only cease hostilities if Ukrainian troops immediately and unconditionally withdraw from all territory claimed by Moscow.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday at the conclusion of a trip to Kyrgyzstan, Putin firmly rejected any notion of a simple ceasefire or a negotiated compromise on the issue of occupied lands, setting a maximalist benchmark that Kyiv has already ruled out as a prerequisite for any talks.
The Ultimatum: Withdraw or Face Force
President Putin’s hardline stance threatens to immediately derail the fragile diplomatic momentum created by the Trump administration’s recent unveiling of a new peace proposal, which has seen intense negotiations among U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials in Geneva.
- The Core Demand: Putin stated that any end to the war is contingent on Ukraine ceding the southern Crimean peninsula (annexed in 2014), the entire eastern Donbas region (Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts), and the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson—including areas within those oblasts that Russia currently does not fully occupy.
- The Threat: “If Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy, hostilities will cease. If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this through military force,” the Russian leader warned.
This demand for full surrender of territory goes far beyond the contested military frontlines and is a clear non-starter for Kyiv, which views the relinquishing of any sovereign land as rewarding Russian aggression.
US Envoy Heads to Moscow
Despite the chilling ultimatum, the diplomatic track remains open. President Putin confirmed that a U.S. delegation, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, is expected to arrive in Moscow early next week to discuss the U.S.-backed peace plan.
- The Plan’s Reception: The President confirmed that Russia has now been shown the latest draft of the U.S. plan—an original version of which was heavily skewed towards Moscow’s demands—and conceded that it could become the “basis” for a future agreement, but stressed that it requires “further discussion.”
- The Sticking Point: Putin confirmed that the central point of contention in upcoming talks with his American counterparts is the “recognition of Russian rule over Crimea and Donbas,” noting that even a discussion about de facto versus legal recognition of Russian control is still on the table.
European leaders, who feel sidelined by the U.S.-led push, continue to express deep skepticism. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas cautioned that “Putin cannot achieve his goals on the battlefield so he will try to negotiate his way there,” warning against any deal that involves the “unilateral carving up of a sovereign European nation.”
In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky scorned Putin’s remarks, stating that Russia has “scorned” all efforts “to truly end the war.” The stark difference between the two leaders’ positions—one demanding total territorial concession and the other demanding territorial integrity and binding security guarantees—shows that despite the recent flurry of talks, the two sides remain fundamentally locked in an existential conflict.