Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with the US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, expressed his willingness to negotiate with Ukraine without preconditions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in turn, indicated that Russia is prepared to finalize an agreement on Ukraine after “refining” certain details.
President Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is open to dialogue in any format but expects a genuine signal that Russia is ready to end the war, which would involve a complete and unconditional ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump stated on April 24 that, as part of a concession to move toward peace, the Russian side is offering to “stop the war” and promises “not to seize the entirety of Ukraine’s territory.” He further mentioned the US will withdraw from negotiations in two weeks if an agreement is not reached.
Analysts observe that Russia is now attempting to display a willingness to accept Trump’s peace deal, even if it does not align with their more ambitious war goals. In this manner, the Kremlin aims to gain favor with Trump while simultaneously creating a political trap for Ukraine.