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Putin proposes to Trump a ceasefire on the front line in Ukraine

Russian president offers to freeze conflict while maintaining occupied territories. White House confirms talks. Kiev rejects suggestion of surrendering Crimea

A proposal to halt the war between Russia and Ukraine has been made by Vladimir Putin to the US administration through Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. According to reports in the Financial Times, the offer envisages a halt to hostilities along the current front line: Moscow would retain control over occupied territories in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, but would give up any further advance.

The proposal was discussed ten days ago in St. Petersburg during a meeting between Putin and Witkoff. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that ‘the president was with Witkoff in the Oval Office’ and announced that the envoy would return to Moscow later this week: “They want it to be clear that negotiations are continuing. We are going in the right direction’.

In parallel, according to sources picked up by the Financial Times, the United States has been probing the possibility of a compromise that would include formal recognition of Crimea as Russian territory and de facto acceptance of Russian control over parts of the four annexed regions. The prospect, however, worries several European governments, who fear it is a bait to push Trump into accepting further concessions, effectively isolating Kiev.

The crucial step in the negotiations is expected to take place today in London, where representatives of the US, France, Germany and the UK will formally discuss the proposal. Among the points on the table are the freezing of the front line in exchange for security guarantees for Ukraine and an international reconstruction plan.

Washington, according to reports in the Washington Post, had already outlined the plan to Ukraine in Paris last week. In return for the recognition of Crimea and an end to the fighting, the US would be willing to gradually lift sanctions against Russia.

Despite some signs of openness, Ukraine reiterates its position: “We will never recognise the occupation of Crimea,” said an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky himself said he was ‘ready for a direct meeting with Trump during his visit to the Vatican’ on the occasion of Pope Francis’ funeral, adding that his team had received a mandate to discuss a ceasefire, provided it was not conditional on the cession of territory.

‘It is our land, it is the land of the Ukrainian people,’ the Ukrainian leader reiterated. No opening, then, on the annexation of Crimea, which Kiev considers outside any negotiations.

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