US-backed peace proposal a starting point to end war in Ukraine, Putin says

U.S. proposals to end the war between Russia and Ukraine offer a starting point for talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

“We need to sit down and discuss this seriously,” Putin told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan. He described the administration of US President Donald Trump. 28 point peace plan as “a set of issues proposed for discussion” rather than a draft agreement.

“If Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy, hostilities will cease. If they do not withdraw, we will achieve it by force,” said the Russian leader.

Kremlin officials have had little to say so far about the peace plan presented last week by Trump. Since the Russian invasion of its neighbor, Putin has shown without will deviate from their objectives in Ukraine despite pressure from Trump for a deal.

Putin has previously demanded that Ukraine completely withdraw from the entire Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions before Russia would consider any kind of “peace negotiations,” particularly including areas of each of those oblasts that Russia does not occupy. He also wants to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and receiving Western troops, allowing Moscow to gradually return the country to its orbit.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow next week, the Kremlin says, while US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who in recent weeks has played a leading role in peace efforts, could head to kyiv.

Initial U.S. peace proposals appeared heavily biased toward Russian demands, but an amended version emerged from talks in Geneva on Sunday between U.S. and Ukrainian officials. Marginalized European leaders, fearing for their own safety amid Russian aggression, are seeking deeper involvement in the process.

Analysts say Putin is trying to wait longer than the commitment western countries to support Ukraine’s war effort. Trump has previously signaled that he could abandon efforts to stop the fighting if there is no progress. European officials say Putin is dragging his feet because Russia wants to seize more of Ukraine’s territory before agreeing to any deal.

Russian officials have claimed they have battlefield momentum in Ukraine, even though their slow progress has been costly in terms of casualties and armor.

The Institute for the Study of War on Wednesday cast doubt on Russian claims that its invasion is unstoppable as it is still fighting to capture cities in the eastern Donetsk region.

“Data on the pace of advance of Russian forces indicates that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is not inevitable, and a rapid Russian takeover of the rest of the Donetsk region is not imminent,” the Washington-based think tank said. “Recent Russian advances elsewhere on the front line have been largely opportunistic and have taken advantage of seasonal weather conditions.”

The diplomatic events have taken place in a context of continuous fighting.