Putin’s Five Conditions to End the Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined a set of conditions for concluding the war in Ukraine, which includes a written commitment from Western leaders to cease NATO’s eastward expansion and a partial lifting of sanctions on Russia, as reported by three Russian sources familiar with the ongoing discussions.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has consistently promised to resolve the conflict—the most lethal in Europe since World War II—has recently expressed frustration with Putin. On Tuesday, Trump cautioned that the Russian leader was “playing with fire” by refusing to participate in ceasefire negotiations, despite Russia’s advances on the battlefield.

The sources indicate that after a two-hour phone call with Trump last week, Putin consented to collaborate on a memorandum with Ukraine that would outline the framework for a possible peace agreement, including a timeline for a ceasefire. Russia is reportedly in the process of drafting its version of this document but has not provided a completion timeline.

Western and Ukrainian officials have accused Moscow of delaying negotiations while it continues its military operations in eastern Ukraine.

“Putin is willing to pursue peace—but not at any cost,” stated a senior Russian source close to the Kremlin, who wished to remain anonymous. One source mentioned that if Putin is unable to achieve peace on his terms, he will seek to show Ukraine and European allies that further military actions would lead to even greater repercussions for them.

Neither the Kremlin nor the office of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to the demands. NATO also refrained from commenting, although the alliance has previously asserted that it will maintain its “open door” policy for new members in response to Russian requests.

In February 2022, Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, following years of escalating tensions and an ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. Currently, Russia occupies nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory, which includes significant portions of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, as well as Crimea, annexed in 2014.

Despite Russia’s territorial advancements over the past year, both sides are experiencing substantial losses, and the economic impact on Russia is increasing. According to Reuters, Putin is increasingly worried about labor shortages, rising inflation, and falling oil revenues, all of which are crucial to the Russian economy.

A second source indicated that Putin has become more rigid regarding territorial matters, now insisting on complete control over the four eastern regions claimed by Russia. “Putin has hardened his stance,” the source remarked.

Putin has consistently perceived NATO’s expansion as a threat to Russia’s security. He has often asserted that the West violated verbal commitments made at the conclusion of the Cold War to restrict NATO’s expansion.

In 2008, NATO announced that Ukraine and Georgia would eventually be granted membership. Subsequently, Ukraine enshrined its goal of joining NATO and the European Union in its constitution in 2019.

In a draft agreement put forward in 2021, Moscow requested written assurances from NATO to cease further expansion, including Ukraine’s membership. Western officials dismissed the proposal, contending that Russia could not dictate NATO’s policies.

Putin is said to desire the current peace terms documented in writing, as he believes that verbal commitments made in the 1990s—such as those allegedly given by then-U.S. Secretary of State James Baker to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev—were deceptive and ultimately ignored.

Russia’s invasion has led to considerable geopolitical ramifications. In 2023, Finland became a NATO member, with Sweden following suit in 2024, citing security issues.

Western leaders have consistently cautioned that a Russian triumph in Ukraine might encourage Moscow to target NATO nations, potentially igniting a larger conflict. Moscow has characterized these warnings as alarmist, while also indicating that the situation could escalate into a more extensive confrontation if not addressed.