Russia has reportedly presented the US with a list of demands, ending the war in Ukraine and resetting relations with Washington, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Russia’s peace terms, will the West accept?
It remains unclear what Moscow’s full terms entail or whether it will engage in peace talks before they are accepted. Russian and American officials have discussed these conditions in recent in-person and virtual meetings over the past three weeks.
Moscow’s Demands: A Familiar Pattern
The Kremlin’s conditions closely resemble previous demands made to Ukraine, the US, and NATO, including:
- No NATO membership for Ukraine
- A ban on foreign troop deployments
- Recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia.
- Addressing NATO’s expansion, which Russia sees as a key cause of the war
These demands echo past negotiations, including those with the Biden administration in 2021-2022, which sought to prevent the invasion. The US engaged on some issues but ultimately failed to stop Russia’s February 2022 attack.
A Renewed Push for Diplomacy?
US and Russian officials have pointed to the 2022 Istanbul peace talks as a possible foundation for new negotiations. Russia had previously demanded:
- Ukraine abandon NATO ambitions
- A permanent nuclear-free status
- Restrictions on military support from foreign allies
The Trump administration has not clarified its negotiation approach but is holding parallel talks on resetting US-Russia relations and a Ukraine peace agreement.
Internal US Division on Peace Talks
There appears to be disagreement within Trump’s team. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff described the Istanbul talks as a viable roadmap for peace, while Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Gen. Keith Kellogg, dismissed them, saying a new approach is needed.
Putin’s Ceasefire Offer: A Legitimate Path to Peace?
Putin has now proposed a 30-day ceasefire, but Western officials remain skeptical. Some argue that Russia seeks to buy time and deepen divisions among Ukraine’s allies.
The key Russian demands for peace include:
- Ukrainian forces withdrew from Donetsk and Luhansk, which voted for independence.
- Ukraine formally abandoning NATO membership, removing what Russia calls the root security threat.
The West’s Choice
With Ukraine’s battlefield position weakening, the US and its allies must decide:
- Engage in negotiations to end the war and stabilise Europe.
- Reject the ceasefire, raising suspicions and exposing their real agenda—perpetual war and destabilization.
Putin has laid out his terms—will Ukraine and its backers consider them seriously, or prolong the bloodshed?
