Vladimir Putin offers to stop the invasion of Ukraine along the current front line, writes the British press / Kremlin reacts: “A lot of forgeries are published now”

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to stop the invasion of Ukraine along the current line of the front, as part of the efforts to reach a peace agreement with US President Donald Trump, writes the British Financial Times (FT) on Tuesday, citing familiar people with this topic, according to Reuters.

Putin told Steve Witkoff, Trump's special emissary for Russia, during a meeting at St. Petersburg, which took place earlier this month, that Moscow is considering giving up his claims in the four partially occupied Ukrainian regions that are still under Kiev's control, says three people.

The areas concerned are the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Herson and Zaporojie, which Moscow annexed in September 2022, but which they still do not fully control. Moscow has also annexed the Ukrainian Peninsula Crimea since 2014.

According to the same sources, the US subsequently proposed ideas for a possible understanding that would include Washington's recognition of the Crimea Peninsula in Russia, as well as, at least recognizing the de facto control exercised by the Kremlin on the four regions currently under Russian occupation.

FT considers that it is the first official indication offered by Putin that Russia considers to give up its maximalist applications to end the invasion of Ukraine. Basically, this can be the first official signal from the Kremlin leader, since the beginning of the war, that Moscow is considering reducing his territorial claims, notes The Kyiv Independent and Meduza.

The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, responding to the article published by FT, has questioned the accuracy of the information.

“A lot of forgeries are published now, including those published by respected publications, so we should listen only to primary sources,” Peskov told the Russian State Agency RIA Novosti.

Moscow has repeatedly demanded the international recognition of the four regions of the eastern and southern Ukraine as of Russia and the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, as part of any peace negotiations.

Putin's message caused Washington to propose a plan for a “peace agreement”, whose elements were later revealed in the press, according to FT.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the US proposal – presented at a confidential meeting that took place on April 17 in Paris – involves the possible recognition of the annexation of the Crimea Peninsula by Russia and excluding the possibility of Ukraine to adhere to NATO.

Ukraine was invited to answer this week, a subsequent meeting being scheduled in London on Wednesday, April 23, in which delegates from Ukraine, US, United Kingdom and France will attend. If the parties reach a consensus, the proposal could be officially presented to Moscow.

The European officials quoted by the FT have expressed concern that Putin's offer is meant to push US President Donald Trump to accept the wider Kremlin's demands.

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski firmly rejected such conditions on Tuesday, April 22, reiterating that Ukraine will not recognize the occupation of the Crimea Peninsula by Russia in any scenario.

“This is our territory, the territory of the Ukrainian people,” Zelenski said. “As soon as the discussions about Crimea and our sovereign territories begin, the discussions fall into the format desired by Russia – the extension of the war,” the Ukrainian leader said.

Trump's emissary, expected again in Moscow

US emissary Steve Witkoff is expected this week in Moscow, a high -ranking counselor from Kremlin, Iuri Usakov, quoted by the Russian state press, said on Tuesday. This will be Witkoff's fourth visit to Russia since President Donald Trump's return to the White House three months ago, previously reported during the AFP day.

The visit takes place in the context in which Donald Trump is trying to get an agreement to put an end to the Ukraine war, which has been lasting for more than three years. In the election campaign, Trump claimed that he can mediate an agreement between Moscow and Kiev in just 24 hours. Since his return to the White House, three months ago, he failed to obtain concessions from Vladimir Putin regarding the stop of the Russian offensive.

At the end of last week, Trump said he hopes that a peace agreement will be concluded “this week”, although there are no indications that the two parties would be almost at least by one armistice, the less than a broader understanding.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said before Tuesday that the problem is “too complex” to be quickly resolved and warned that no strict terms should be set. “It takes a viable solution, not a hurry,” Peskov said.

After rejecting a US and Ukraine offer last month for a total and unconditional armistice, Putin unexpectedly announced a Easter armistice over the weekend.

The battles were reduced during the 30 hours, but Russia resumed attacks on residential areas Monday and Tuesday, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Kiev and his allies rejected the armistice, cataloging him as an image action.

Washington pointed out that if no progress is made in the next few days in the conflict's discussions, take into account his mediation efforts.

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