The document includes a 30-day ceasefire and takes into account the Kremlin’s demand that the US bar Ukraine’s accession to NATO. The proposals are to be submitted to Putin by the US President’s Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff.
According to intelligence estimates, Putin remains committed to his maximalist goals in the war against Ukraine and is not interested in a political settlement through negotiations. Russia wants Ukraine to withdraw its troops from four regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – as well as agree to limit the size of its military and commit to protecting the Russian language and culture.
In response, former US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker does not believe that Putin will ever agree to a peace agreement concluded through negotiations.
“Putin wants to play games. He wants to see what he can get from the Trump administration and the West for free. He wants to try a summer offensive and see if he can take more territory,” Volker said.
He suggested that Putin would agree to a ceasefire later in the fall if allies succeeded in imposing tougher sanctions, the Kremlin’s financial situation worsened, and a potential summer offensive failed.