Putin signals deal, but will seize more land if Kyiv resists

Putin signals deal but warns he’ll seize more land if Kyiv resists

Russian President Vladimir Putin is dangling the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough — while openly threatening to grab more Ukrainian territory by force if Kyiv refuses to retreat. The Kremlin strongman, speaking in Bishkek on Thursday, said a US-drafted plan to end the war could “form the basis for future agreements.” But any hope of rapid progress was quickly smothered as Putin repeated his maximalist red lines.

The war will only end, he insisted, when Ukrainian troops withdraw from all the territory Moscow claims, including land Russia hasn’t actually conquered. “If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this through military means,” Putin declared, making clear that the battlefield remains his default negotiating tool.

Putin confirmed that Moscow expects US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in the Russian capital early next week for what he called “serious discussion.” Kyiv, too, is preparing for high-stakes talks, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying a Ukrainian delegation will meet US officials this week, followed by “important negotiations” involving him personally.

But the gulf between the two sides remains enormous. Russia currently occupies roughly 20 percent of internationally recognized Ukrainian territory — including almost all of Luhansk and parts of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Moscow now demands Ukraine cede the entirety of these four regions, which it annexed illegally in 2022.

Russia has made recent gains around Pokrovsk, but Western analysts say Moscow’s momentum is limited. The Institute for the Study of War warned Thursday that data on Russian advances shows a sweeping Russian victory is “not inevitable,” and that even taking the rest of Donetsk “is not imminent.”

Kyiv — backed by Europe — has repeatedly vowed to reject any territorial concessions, particularly in the so-called “fortress belt” of fortified towns that anchor Ukraine’s defensive line. Surrendering them would expose the Ukrainian heartland and shatter any hope of future security guarantees.

Putin’s comments also cast doubt on the optimism from US officials — including Trump himself — who have spoken in recent days of “tremendous progress” on ending the war. That optimism evaporated once details emerged of the original 28-point peace plan, drafted with heavy Russian input and rejected by Ukraine and European allies. Early versions included demands that Ukraine shrink its army and permanently abandon NATO membership.

A revised proposal is now in circulation, though its exact language remains secret. Putin said he has been briefed on it and believes the new draft could eventually lead to a deal — but signaled the Kremlin is in no hurry.

“It would be impolite of me to speak of final agreements now,” he said, offering conciliatory words even as he prepared the ground for escalation.

For Kyiv and much of Europe, the message was unmistakable: talks may be coming — but so is the threat of a new Russian offensive.

Key takeaways

• Putin says a U.S. plan could serve as a negotiating base — but only if Ukraine withdraws from territory Moscow claims; otherwise he threatens to seize land by force.

• The Kremlin expects Steve Witkoff in Moscow next week, signalling talks are possible even as Russia demands full control of parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

• Western analysts warn a rapid Russian victory is not inevitable; Kyiv and its European backers have made territorial concessions a red line, raising the risk that diplomacy collapses back into fighting.

SOURCE CNN