According to three Russian sources familiar with the negotiations, President Vladimir Putin’s preconditions for concluding the war in Ukraine include a written commitment from Western leaders to halt the eastward expansion of NATO and to lift certain sanctions on Russia.
U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently expressed his desire to end the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II and has displayed growing frustration with Putin in recent days, cautioning that the Russian leader is “playing with fire” by refusing to participate in ceasefire discussions with Kyiv as his military gains ground.
After a conversation lasting over two hours with Trump last week, Putin indicated his agreement to collaborate with Ukraine on a memorandum that would outline the framework for a peace agreement, which would encompass the timing of a ceasefire. Russia has stated it is currently drafting its version of this memorandum but is unable to provide a timeline for its completion.
Both Kyiv and European governments have accused Moscow of dragging its feet while Russian forces continue their advance in eastern Ukraine.
“Putin is open to peace, but not without conditions,” remarked a senior Russian source familiar with high-level Kremlin thinking, who wished to remain anonymous.
The three Russian sources reported that Putin seeks a “written” assurance from major Western powers against further NATO enlargement—effectively ruling out membership for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.
Additionally, Russia demands that Ukraine remain neutral, the lifting of certain sanctions, a resolution regarding frozen Russian assets in the West, and protections for Russian speakers in Ukraine, according to the sources.
The first source suggested that if Putin comes to believe he cannot secure a peace deal on his own terms, he will aim to convey to Ukrainians and Europeans through military might that “a peace tomorrow will be even more costly.”
The Kremlin did not respond to a request for comments on Reuters’ report. Putin and other Russian officials have reiterated that any peace agreement must tackle the “root causes” of the conflict, which they frame as the need for the “denazification” and demilitarization of Ukraine.
Kyiv has consistently maintained that Russia should not have the authority to veto its ambitions to join NATO. Ukraine insists on strong security guarantees from the West to deter any future Russian aggression.
Trump, who prides himself on maintaining friendly relations with Putin and believes the Russian leader desires peace, has warned that Washington may impose additional sanctions if Moscow stalls efforts to reach a settlement. On social media, Trump suggested on Sunday that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY” following an unprecedented air assault on Ukraine the previous week.
The first Russian source mentioned that if Putin identified a tactical advantage on the battlefield, he would continue to push further into Ukraine—and that the Kremlin is confident Russia could sustain its efforts for years, regardless of any imposed sanctions and economic difficulties from the West.
A second source indicated that Putin is currently less willing to compromise on territorial issues and is adhering to his public position of wanting full control over the four eastern Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia.
“Putin has hardened his stance,” the second source stated regarding territorial negotiations.
