Russian President Vladimir Putin has again ruled out any ceasefire in Ukraine unless Kyiv withdraws all its forces from the parts of Donbas it still controls. Speaking during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, he said fighting would stop “immediately” once Ukrainian troops leave the region, adding that Russia would enforce this militarily if necessary.
Putin repeated the message later to reporters, asserting that his position “has not changed at all.” The remarks come at a delicate moment, as Washington, Kyiv and European capitals continue to debate a controversial peace proposal circulating among American officials.
Reports from Bloomberg and other outlets indicate that the draft plan presented to the White House closely aligns with Kremlin preferences. Major concessions would be required from Ukraine, including the permanent loss of the entire Donbas region—an outcome Moscow has repeatedly insisted upon.
Putin confirmed that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Moscow next week for further discussions. Witkoff has faced intense scrutiny after a leaked recording appeared to show him advising a Russian official on how best to frame Moscow’s terms to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Despite the controversy, Putin said he was prepared to examine the latest American proposals. He also claimed that the 28-point U.S. plan published by Axios could form a foundation for future negotiations, even though no final agreement has been reached.
According to Putin, the plan emerged after the Alaska summit and was partly discussed before direct U.S.–Russia contact resumed. He said follow-up meetings in Geneva between U.S. and Ukrainian officials resulted in the original draft being split into four sections and sent to Moscow for review.
The original U.S. document included sweeping requirements for Kyiv: ceding Donbas entirely, scaling down its military, accepting limits on its weapon stockpiles, and adopting Russian as a second state language. It also contained amnesty clauses favourable to Moscow, prompting immediate pushback from European governments.
In response, the United Kingdom, Germany and France drafted counterproposals aimed at shifting the balance of the talks. European officials have warned that excessive concessions would undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and fail to deter further Russian aggression.
Following the 23 November talks in Geneva, U.S. and Ukrainian representatives announced a shorter, adjusted version of the plan. The Financial Times reported that the revised proposal reduced the number of provisions from 28 to 19.
However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Moscow would reject any version that stripped too many elements from the original text. He said the Kremlin expected “serious engagement” from Washington rather than attempts to dilute the plan.
Putin also used his Kyrgyzstan appearance to dismiss Western claims that Russia is preparing for future attacks on European states. He called such warnings “baseless,” but said he was open to providing written guarantees if needed.
The comments come amid heightened tensions, with several NATO countries accusing Russia of expanding hybrid operations and warning that conventional conflict in Europe cannot be ruled out in the coming years. NATO officials say Moscow continues to test Western responses through cyberattacks, disinformation efforts and pressure on states bordering Ukraine.
Ukrainian representatives say the most sensitive elements of the peace proposal will ultimately require direct talks between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump.
No date has been set for their meeting, leaving the fate of the negotiations uncertain as Moscow signals it will not budge from its core demand.
For now, Putin’s insistence on total Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas remains the central obstacle—one that neither Kyiv nor its European allies are prepared to accept.