Official announcements from the governments of Russia, Ukraine, or the United States, or credible international news agencies such as Reuters or BBC.

Putin Open to Ceasefire Talks with Trump, Demands Ukraine Drop NATO Bid, Rejects Concessions

Nov 20, 2024, 09:15 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly open to discussing a Ukraine ceasefire deal with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump but rules out making any major territorial concessions and insists that Kyiv abandon its ambitions to join NATO. According to multiple sources cited by Reuters, the Kremlin may agree to freeze hostilities along the current front line, potentially leading to a ceasefire agreement that reflects the "realities" on the ground. Putin is prepared for contacts and negotiations on Ukraine, including with Trump, and may be open to withdrawing from "relatively small" patches of Ukrainian territory, such as areas in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, "The idea of freezing the conflict along the frontline is inherently unacceptable to the Russian side," emphasizing that Russia does not want to freeze the conflict and that achieving its military objectives remains crucial. Putin insists that a ceasefire deal must acknowledge Russia's control over occupied territories and that Ukraine must abandon its aspirations to join NATO.