President Vladimir Putin says US President Donald Trump’s proposed plan for peace in Ukraine could lead to an end of the fighting, but he calls on Kyiv to compromise. Speaking to foreign media editors on the sidelines of Russia’s annual economic forum, Putin linked the potential for peace to Ukrainian willingness to make concessions. He said he sees no signs that Kyiv is prepared to do so, and therefore Russia is ready to continue fighting if needed.
Putin also stated that Russia would be able to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, framing military progress as an alternative if negotiations do not move forward. The comments are made during the fifth year of what both outlets describe as Europe’s deadliest land war since World War II. Both reports present Putin’s remarks as a message aimed at encouraging Ukraine to accept terms he implies are part of Trump’s proposals, while simultaneously signaling that Moscow does not view compromise as forthcoming.
