Vladimir Putin wants Moscow to take full control over four Ukrainian regions he claims to have annexed as part of any deal to end the war, it has been reported.
Putin’s demands as reported by Bloomberg deal a blow to President Donald Trump‘s efforts to reach a ceasefire and a permanent end to the war amid speculation the U.S. president would walk away from talks if a deal is not imminent.
Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin and the White House for comment.
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Why It Matters
Bloomberg’s report suggests Putin’s demand goes further than what was on the table in discussions between the Russian president and Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in which fighting would halt along the current frontlines.
That proposal would see Moscow de facto control parts of the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk regions that Russia occupies but does not fully control.
The deal was controversial enough, with concessions including a proposed de jure recognition of the annexed peninsula of Crimea, but Bloomberg‘s reporting points to Putin not backing down from his maximalist demands, throwing another obstacle in front of Trump’s quest for a swift resolution.
What To Know
Citing unnamed sources in Moscow, Bloomberg said that Putin wants Russia to take control of the four regions he claimed to have annexed in September 2022, as part of any deal to end the war.
The Kremlin has claimed that the status of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk were reinforced with their addition to the Russian constitution following referenda which were internationally denounced as shams.
During talks last week in Moscow, Witkoff tried to persuade Putin that parts of these regions behind the frontline could be recognized as de facto controlled by Russia, according to Bloomberg, which said that the Russian president maintained his maximalist position on territory.
Now negotiations appear have reached an impasse and there would need to be direct contact between Putin and Trump for any further progress, one source told the outlet.
The Kremlin has not commented, while U.S. National Security Council Spokesman James Hewitt said it did not comment on ongoing negotiations and that progress was continuing.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted on X that Kyiv was preparing for talks with the U.S. on new sanctions which could push Moscow toward diplomacy.
The report adds to concerns that Putin will refuse to make concessions and stick to maximalist objectives, which also include prohibiting Kyiv from joining NATO.
Bryn Rosenfeld, a geopolitical expert from Cornell University, told Newsweek even if a peace deal is reached, Putin will not give up on Ukraine.
Rosenfeld said even if Ukraine is forced to cede significant territory, it will remain more European in orientation, more anti-Russian, and more determined to build functioning democratic institutions.
Even if NATO membership is off the table, Putin won’t be satisfied, because the direction that Ukrainians manifestly want their government to take is not going to be acceptable to him, she added
What People Are Saying
Bloomberg reported: “Putin is insisting that Russia must take control of four regions of Ukraine it doesn’t fully occupy as part of any agreement to end his war.”
US National Security Council Spokesman James Hewitt: “We continue to make progress with both Ukraine and Russia to bring this conflict to a peaceful resolution.”
Bryn Rosenfeld, associate professor of government, Cornell University: “Even if Ukraine is forced to cede significant territory, the Ukrainian state that remains will be more European in orientation, more anti-Russian, and more determined to build functioning democratic institutions.”
What Happens Next
Putin declared a 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine starting May 8, to mark the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II, but the announcement was met with skepticism and fears that it would only serve Moscow’s interests.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has said negotiations are continuing apace, although speculation remains over Washington’s long-term commitment to the process.