Putin says US plan could be ‘basis’ of a Ukraine deal but threatens to take land by force if Kyiv doesn’t withdraw

CNN Russian President Vladimir Putin commented that a US plan to end the war in Ukraine could form the basis for future agreements but renewed threats to seize more territory by force unless Kyiv withdraws Speaking to reporters in Bishtek in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan on Thursday Putin validated the Kremlin was expecting a US delegation headed by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to visit Moscow early next week adding that the Kremlin was ready for serious discussion But chances of a swift breakthrough appear slim after Putin repeated his maximalist demands saying the war in Ukraine will only end once Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy If they don t withdraw we will achieve this through military means the Russian leader reported Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported his delegation will also meet with US leaders by the end of this week to discuss points set out in Geneva Speaking in his nightly video address Zelensky added that next week will see pivotal negotiations not only for our delegation but also for me personally without providing further details Russia is occupying specific of the territory recognized under international law as part of sovereign Ukraine including almost all of the Luhansk region and parts of the Donetsk Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions Moscow is demanding Ukraine surrender the entirety of these four regions which it has annexed but not fully conquered Russia has made specific gains along the eastern Ukrainian frontline in newest weeks bulk significantly around the city of Pokrovsk Still the Institute for the Survey of War a US-based conflict monitor revealed on Thursday that input on Russian forces rate of advance indicates that a Russian military preeminence in Ukraine is not inevitable and a rapid Russian seizure of the rest of Donetsk Oblast is not imminent Crucially the area Russia is demanding includes the fortress belt of heavily defended towns and cities seen that are seen as vital for Ukrainian prevention Kyiv and its European allies have made it clear that territorial concessions are a red line for them Putin s remarks on Thursday were the strongest indication that Russia is not willing to move after US officers including Trump himself touted tremendous progress being made on their efforts to end the war This came after Ukrainian and European administrators strongly opposed and then revised the -point peace plan which was drafted by the US with apparent strong input from Russia The original plan reflected Russia s extensive wishlist and included a demand for Ukraine to reduce its army and be barred from joining NATO Putin stated on Thursday that he was expecting Witkoff to arrive to Moscow early next week presumably to discuss the new draft of the plan the exact wording of which is not yet known Putin revealed he has been informed of the latest discussions and that the plan could form the basis for future agreements It would be impolite of me to speak of final agreements now Putin added