Putin proposes Ukraine abandon Donbas and NATO ambitions in exchange for peace

Vladimir Putin has proposed a peace deal requiring Ukraine to cede Donbas, abandon NATO ambitions, and adopt neutrality. In exchange, Russia would halt further advances and return limited occupied areas. Kyiv rejects surrendering territory, insisting NATO membership is a constitutional right. Analysts doubt the deal’s viability despite renewed U.S.-led diplomacy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined fresh terms for ending the war in Ukraine following his meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska. According to sources familiar with Kremlin discussions, Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw entirely from the Donbas region, drop its bid to join NATO, and pledge military neutrality.

The proposal, seen as a shift from Russia’s earlier demands, would also halt Moscow’s advance in southern regions such as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. In return, Russia indicated it could relinquish control over smaller occupied areas in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk. Putin’s conditions also include guarantees that Western troops will not be stationed in Ukraine and that NATO will not expand further east.

Kyiv has consistently rejected ceding any internationally recognized territory. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the Donbas forms a key line of defense against deeper Russian advances and reaffirmed that NATO membership remains a constitutional goal. “If we’re talking about simply withdrawing from the east, we cannot do that,” Zelenskiy said.

The White House and NATO have not yet responded publicly to Russia’s reported terms. Analysts say the demands are unlikely to be acceptable to Ukraine, viewing them as a potential stalling tactic or diplomatic maneuver by Moscow.

Despite skepticism from European leaders, sources close to the Kremlin described the Alaska summit as the most serious opening for peace talks since the invasion began in February 2022. Trump has positioned himself as a mediator, pledging to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy.

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Putin’s proposals reflect both military realities and Russia’s awareness of its economic vulnerabilities. However, the gulf between Moscow’s terms and Ukraine’s position means that the prospect of a breakthrough remains highly uncertain.