The Wall Street Journal has reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered the United States a proposal under which he would agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine relinquished much of its eastern territory.
According to the plan, Ukraine would give up the Donbas region without Russia committing to any action beyond halting the war. Putin reportedly presented the idea during a Wednesday meeting in Moscow with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that following Putin’s proposal, he plans to meet the Russian leader on August 15 in Alaska. Trump described the offer as “not a major breakthrough” but “interesting enough” to justify arranging a meeting.
European and Ukrainian officials have voiced concern that the proposal may be a tactic by Putin to forestall new U.S. sanctions and tariffs rather than a genuine step toward peace.
The offer suggests a possible shift from Moscow’s earlier demands for full control of areas beyond Donbas. Putin told Witkoff that he would accept a complete ceasefire if Ukrainian forces withdrew from all of Donetsk in Donbas. In that case, Russia would maintain control over Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Currently, Russia occupies most of Donetsk and Luhansk, though Ukrainian forces still hold key urban centers that have become major defensive strongholds.
