Putin escalates demands as US peace talks near in Moscow

Published: 28 November 2025 Friday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

President Vladimir Putin has hardened his longstanding territorial demands ahead of high-stakes talks with US officials in Moscow, declaring that Russia will only halt its offensive in Ukraine once Kyiv’s forces fully withdraw from regions claimed by the Kremlin. The Russian leader’s remarks underscore how far apart the two sides remain, even as a recent surge of diplomatic activity has raised hopes in Washington for progress toward a negotiated settlement.

Speaking during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin reiterated that any end to the war must include Ukrainian military withdrawal from the entire Donbas region—comprising Luhansk and Donetsk—and recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea, annexed in 2014. Kyiv has repeatedly rejected such conditions, stating that rewarding aggression is unacceptable and that Ukraine will not cede sovereignty over any part of its internationally recognised territory.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by accusing Moscow of “scorning” genuine efforts to achieve peace. In a late-night address, he said that while Ukraine remained committed to diplomacy, any agreement must ensure both peace and solid security guarantees for his country’s future. The Ukrainian leader also confirmed that US and Ukrainian teams would continue technical talks aimed at translating tentative understandings reached in Geneva into actionable proposals.

The renewed diplomatic push follows reports that American and Russian officials drafted a preliminary peace outline earlier in October. Though initially leaning heavily toward Moscow’s demands, the plan was subsequently revised during discussions among US, Ukrainian, and European negotiators in Switzerland. Yet the issue of Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory—long the core obstacle to a settlement—remains unresolved.

Putin said Moscow had now reviewed the newest draft and described it as a possible “basis” for future negotiations. Still, he emphasised that certain “specific points” required further refinement in diplomatic language. Asked about suggestions that Crimea and the Donbas might be acknowledged as under Russian de facto control but not legally recognised as Russian territory, he confirmed that such ideas were part of ongoing discussions with American representatives.

A US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Moscow next week, with President Donald Trump hinting that his son-in-law Jared Kushner may also join the talks. Trump has publicly suggested that only a handful of disagreements remain between Russia and Ukraine, even implying that his own meeting with Zelensky would depend on the success of these discussions. In Kyiv, senior Ukrainian officials have said US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is due to visit later in the week, though neither side has provided details about his role.

Despite the diplomatic activity, Putin dismissed the legitimacy of Ukraine’s government, claiming once again that there was “no use” signing documents with Zelensky. His comments come even though Ukraine’s parliament earlier this year unanimously extended the president’s mandate under martial law, which has been in place since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

On the battlefield, Russia continues to make slow, grinding advances in eastern Ukraine. Yet these gains have come at a steep cost in manpower and equipment. Analysts at the US-based Institute for the Study of War estimate that, at the current pace, Russia could take nearly two more years to seize the remaining parts of the Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control. Moscow nevertheless insists it has the advantage and is prepared to continue fighting “to the last Ukrainian”—a formulation Putin repeated during his press conference.

The Russian leader also scoffed at warnings from European security officials that Moscow could pose a threat to NATO members within the next decade. “That sounds laughable to us,” Putin said, brushing aside fears that Russia’s appetite for territorial expansion might extend beyond Ukraine.

European leaders, however, remain deeply sceptical of Russia’s intentions. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen accused Moscow of clinging to a post-Second World War mindset, suggesting that the Kremlin still envisions Europe as a fragmented geopolitical landscape where powerful states carve out spheres of influence at the expense of smaller nations.

Against this backdrop, the flurry of diplomatic manoeuvring has produced cautious optimism in Washington but considerable wariness in Europe and Kyiv. For Ukraine, any negotiation that fails to restore its territorial integrity risks undermining the very principles of sovereignty and international law. For Russia, territorial recognition has become a central, non-negotiable pillar of its war aims.

As preparations continue for next week’s meetings in Moscow and Kyiv, the gulf between the two sides remains stark. Whether the latest round of diplomacy will narrow that divide—or simply expose how deeply entrenched each side has become—may determine the trajectory of the conflict in the months ahead. For now, Putin’s remarks make clear that Russia is not prepared to compromise on the very issues that Ukraine and its allies view as fundamental.