Putin’s Latest Peace Terms: NATO Freeze – Sanctions Lifted – Ukrainian Neutrality

 

Putin Reportedly Open to Peace in Ukraine — But Only on His Terms

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly willing to consider ending the war in Ukraine, but only if the West agrees to a series of sweeping demands, including halting NATO expansion, lifting sanctions, and ensuring Ukraine’s neutrality.

“Putin is ready for peace, but not at any price,” a senior Russian source familiar with high-level Kremlin discussions told Reuters.

According to three unnamed Russian sources cited by the outlet, the Kremlin’s conditions include:

A formal written guarantee that NATO will not expand further east — effectively barring membership for Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and other former Soviet states.

A commitment to Ukrainian neutrality.

Removal of key Western sanctions.

Resolution regarding frozen Russian sovereign assets.

Legal protections for Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine.

If these demands are not met, one source warned, Putin is prepared to escalate militarily to demonstrate that rejecting his terms will carry heavier consequences in the future.

The Kremlin declined to comment on the report.

Kyiv Rejects External Veto

Ukraine has consistently maintained that Moscow should not have any influence over its NATO ambitions. While President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration did not comment on the Reuters article, Kyiv has repeatedly stated it seeks binding security guarantees backed by enforcement mechanisms.

NATO officials from its 32 member states also declined to respond directly to the report. However, the alliance has reiterated in the past that it will not abandon its “open door” policy in response to Russian demands.

No Retreat on Territory

A second Russian source told Reuters that Putin has grown even more inflexible regarding territorial concessions. The Kremlin reportedly refuses to withdraw from any of the four Ukrainian regions it now claims as Russian territory: Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

“Putin has hardened his stance,” the source said.

In June 2023, Putin had already demanded Ukraine renounce NATO membership and withdraw from all Russian-claimed areas. At present, Russian forces control most of Luhansk, over 70% of Donetsk, and parts of both Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. They also hold areas of Kharkiv and Sumy and continue to threaten parts of Dnipropetrovsk.

Past Assurances, Present Demands

Putin continues to reference a 1990 verbal assurance reportedly made by then-U.S. Secretary of State James Baker to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev — that NATO would not expand “one inch eastward.” The assurance was never formalized, and Washington has since stated that it did not constitute a binding agreement.

Former CIA Director William J. Burns confirmed in his memoir that the conversation occurred, but emphasized it predated the collapse of the Soviet Union and carried no legal weight.

Now, Moscow is reportedly seeking to formalize that assurance in writing.

Early Talks, No Timeline

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there is currently no timeline for drafting a peace framework with Ukraine. Following a phone call between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on May 19, Peskov confirmed that discussions were in the early stages and no decisions had been made regarding the format or venue for potential talks.

He added that any agreement would be developed jointly and would require an exchange of draft proposals and detailed negotiations, with no firm deadline in place.

Speaking after the call, Putin said Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine to define the key principles of a potential settlement. However, Peskov reaffirmed that Russia believes the “root causes” of the conflict must be addressed as part of any lasting resolution.