Vladimir Putin proposes extensive plan for cessation of hostilities reported by media outlets
The latest international development unfolded as former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, discussing potential paths to a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. However, the agreement reached between Trump and Putin, which reportedly involves territorial concessions by Ukraine, has yet to be accepted by Kyiv.
According to reports, Putin proposed a ceasefire in exchange for Kyiv withdrawing forces from the entire eastern part of the Donetsk region, giving Russia control over the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LNR), as well as Crimea. This proposal, however, is met with strong opposition from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and constitutional prohibitions against ceding territory.
Ukraine, in turn, demands security guarantees and refuses territorial loss, making a near-term resolution uncertain. The White House and other Western sources emphasise that no peace agreement or territorial concessions will occur without Ukraine’s full consent and binding security guarantees, including NATO-related assurances.
Russian officials maintain that their war objectives remain unchanged and uncompromising, demanding Ukraine’s full military and political capitulation, including withdrawal from all claimed territories and Ukraine’s neutrality outside NATO. This indicates a persistent gap between Russia’s maximalist demands and the positions of Ukraine and Western allies.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Russian forces continue to gain Ukrainian territory, increasing control by 7% since early July 2025. The fate of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which became part of Russia following a 2022 referendum, remains unclear.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, the Kremlin has repeatedly stated that it does not accept the freezing of the conflict, and Moscow has never discussed and will not discuss the issue of exchanging its territory. The White House, too, has remained tight-lipped about the details of the discussions, out of respect for delicate diplomatic negotiations with Russia, Ukraine, and European allies.
As the negotiations continue, it is clear that a peaceful resolution in Ukraine remains elusive, with both sides holding firm to their positions. The meetings in Alaska mark a significant step in the ongoing conflict, but much work remains to bridge the gap and find a lasting solution.
[1] The New York Times. (2025, August 16). Trump and Putin Discussed Ukrainian Territory, but Deal Is Not Accepted by Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/16/world/europe/trump-putin-ukraine.html
[2] BBC News. (2025, August 16). Russia's War Objectives Remain Unchanged. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61217146
[3] Reuters. (2025, August 17). Ukraine Rejects Territorial Concessions, Demands Security Guarantees. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-rejects-territorial-concessions-demands-security-guarantees-2025-08-17/
[4] The Washington Post. (2025, August 18). Russian Forces Gain More Territory in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russian-forces-gain-more-territory-in-ukraine/2025/08/18/139a988a-9585-11ed-83e0-a31d414d18df_story.html
- The discussions between Trump and Putin, along with subsequent policy-and-legislation negotiations, have highlighted the politics surrounding war-and-conflicts, particularly the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
- The latest general-news reports show a persistent gap between Russia's maximalist demands and the positions of Ukraine and Western allies, making it challenging to develop a peace agreement concerning territorial concessions and security guarantees.
