Putin Welcomes U.S. Proposal to Resolve Ukraine Crisis

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, said that he had received the U.S. proposal for peace in Ukraine and that this plan could form the basis for a peaceful settlement of the conflict with Kyiv.

According to Rokna, citing Reuters, Putin said on Friday in a meeting with senior Russian officials that the plan had not been discussed in detail with Russia and added: “I believe this plan can be the basis of a final peaceful solution.”

The Russian president stated that Ukraine opposes the plan, but that Kyiv and European powers do not understand the reality that Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine and that if peace is not established, this advance will continue.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a peace plan for Ukraine consisting of four main components: peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, security in Europe, and future U.S. relations with Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine must also limit its military.

In addition, the plan includes requests for Ukraine to withdraw its bid to join NATO, recognize Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk as territories under Russian control, and withdraw its forces to establish a demilitarized zone in Donbas in exchange for security guarantees based on NATO’s collective-defense principle.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, said on Friday that his country is facing “one of the most difficult moments” in its history and must choose between preserving national dignity or maintaining its relationship with its key partner, the United States.

He added that he is determined to find a way for “calm cooperation with the United States and all partners,” while also stating that he will not sacrifice his country’s national interests for anything. He said he would continue to present arguments and alternative proposals.