Vladimir Putin's 'unusual behaviour' hints at huge Ukraine peace deal breakthrough

In the days surrounding his summit in Alaska with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin engaged in a series of unusual moves that some Kremlin watchers believe may signal he’s considering concessions to end the war in Ukraine.

The Alaska meeting itself lasted about three hours, and while both leaders appeared together afterward, they gave away almost nothing about what was discussed. Optimism that the summit might mark a turning point has since faded, especially as Moscow has introduced new conditions. Russia’s Foreign Minister declared that any postwar security guarantees for Ukraine would require a Kremlin veto and that European troops in the country were “unacceptable.” The Kremlin also dismissed the possibility of an imminent Putin–Zelensky meeting, stressing that “due process” must come first.

To many, these statements confirm the suspicion that Moscow has little real interest in peace. With Russian forces believing they hold an upper hand on the battlefield, there seems to be little incentive for Putin to compromise.

But Russian journalist Farida Rustamova, who has long covered the Kremlin and now runs her own Substack, has pointed out two signals that might suggest otherwise.

First, Putin dramatically ramped up his diplomatic phone calls before and after the Alaska summit. He spoke to 12 world leaders in the days leading up to it, and another 10 afterward. These weren’t random calls either on his list were leaders of post-Soviet states along with the presidents of South Africa, India, and Brazil. The Kremlin said the calls related to the Trump talks, and observers note that this level of telephone diplomacy hasn’t been seen since the invasion began.

Second, Putin convened special meetings in the Kremlin’s Catherine Hall both before and after the summit. This location is symbolically important: it’s the same room where he famously gathered top officials in early 2022, pressing them on whether to proceed with the invasion of Ukraine. Rustamova suggests these recent meetings may have been about spreading collective responsibility for another major decision this time, potentially concessions tied to a peace deal.

None of this guarantees a breakthrough. But the signs show that behind Moscow’s tough public stance, serious deliberations may be underway. Whether they result in meaningful peace efforts or stall like past initiatives remains to be seen.