Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly willing to accept a ceasefire in Ukraine, recognizing the current battlefield lines, according to four Russian sources familiar with discussions in Putin’s inner circle.
Putin is prepared to continue fighting if Kyiv and the West do not respond to his terms.
He has expressed frustration with Western-backed attempts to stall negotiations and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s refusal to engage in talks.
Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that Russia does not want “eternal war” and is open to negotiations.
However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba dismissed Putin’s overtures as “phoney signals” aimed at derailing a Ukrainian-initiated peace summit in Switzerland next month.
The sources suggest that Putin believes his current gains are sufficient to declare victory to the Russian people and is reluctant to launch another nationwide mobilization, which could be unpopular.
However, Ukraine and its Western backers are sceptical of Putin’s intentions, citing his past broken promises and insistence on locking in battlefield gains.
The prospect of a ceasefire or peace talks appears remote, with Zelenskiy vowing to retake lost territory, including Crimea, and the US and European leaders pledging to stand by Ukraine until its security and sovereignty are guaranteed.
The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of lives lost and sweeping Western sanctions on Russia’s economy.
Putin’s willingness to accept a ceasefire is conditional on recognizing the current battlefield lines, which would leave Russia in possession of substantial chunks of four Ukrainian regions.
However, Ukraine and its Western backers are unlikely to accept this condition, and the conflict is likely to continue until a more comprehensive agreement is reached.
The sources also suggest that Putin is concerned about the growing danger of escalation with the West, including nuclear escalation, over the Ukraine standoff.
However, the US State Department has not seen any sign that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon and remains ready to monitor the strategic environment.
