Russian President Vladimir Putin has laid out his conditions for a possible end to the war in Ukraine. The president’s demands include a legally binding commitment from Western leaders to halt NATO’s eastward expansion, specifically barring Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and other former Soviet republics from joining the alliance, as well as the partial lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia.
Putin reportedly views NATO enlargement as the root cause of the conflict and insists that any peace agreement must include formal written guarantees on this issue. Additionally, Moscow is demanding Ukraine’s neutral status, the unfreezing of Russian sovereign assets in the West, and “protection for Russian speakers” within Ukraine.
“Putin is ready to make peace, but not at any price,” said one senior source familiar with Kremlin thinking, speaking on condition of anonymity.
While Kyiv and European leaders accused Russia of stalling negotiations while escalating military actions, Western allies seem to be taking the route of threats rather than diplomacy. German Chancellor Merz announced that key military equipment suppliers no longer require Ukraine to limit their range of use and will allow the Ukrainian army to use these weapons to strike into Russian territory without limitations.
