Putin considers permanent peace deal as US envoy reports progress

[UNITED STATES] According to US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to reach a "permanent peace" agreement with Ukraine following discussions aimed at ending the more than three-year conflict. Trump has been pressuring Moscow and Kyiv to commit to a cease-fire, but despite numerous conversations between Russian and US officials, he has been unable to extract any meaningful concessions from them.

The new conversations take place in the midst of altering combat dynamics, with Ukrainian forces recently making incremental advances in northeastern Kharkiv, while Russian troops maintain major ground in the south and east. Analysts believe that both sides are approaching a stalemate, which could create a chance for diplomatic efforts to gain pace.

Intelligence reports indicate that Russia has recently redeployed troops from its western borders to reinforce defensive lines in Donetsk and Luhansk, signaling a strategic pivot to consolidate gains rather than pursue large-scale offensives. This shift aligns with Putin’s recent public remarks emphasizing Russia’s “readiness for compromise,” though experts caution that Moscow’s definition of compromise may fall short of Kyiv’s demands.

On Friday, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Saint Petersburg, their third encounter since the Republican president returned to the White House in January.

The Saint Petersburg talks reportedly included preliminary discussions on potential security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia, a sticking point in past negotiations. While details remain confidential, sources suggest the framework could involve international monitoring of disputed territories and phased troop withdrawals—a proposal Ukraine has rejected in the past without explicit NATO membership assurances.

Witkoff's visit comes with reports of mounting pressure from European allies, who are growing concerned about the war's economic and humanitarian costs. According to sources involved with the negotiations, Germany and France have privately pressed Ukraine to seek a negotiated settlement, despite Kyiv's professed commitment to regaining all occupied territories.

European diplomats have privately expressed frustration over the slow progress of U.S.-led mediation, with some advocating for a more prominent EU role in brokering talks. This tension underscores broader divisions within the Western alliance, as countries like Poland and the Baltic states continue to advocate for maximalist Ukrainian victory scenarios, while others push for pragmatic concessions to end the bloodshed.

During a Fox News interview aired on Monday, Witkoff stated that a peace accord was "emerging," and that two top Putin advisors, Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, were present at the "compelling meeting."

Despite these cautiously encouraging signals, many Ukrainian authorities and Western hawks remain skeptical. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently stressed that any peace accord must entail the complete departure of Russian forces as well as accountability for war crimes, something Moscow has thus far rejected. Meanwhile, Washington hardliners argue that a hasty agreement might legitimate Russia's territorial gains and encourage greater aggression.

Recent polling in Ukraine shows dwindling public support for territorial concessions, with over 80% of respondents opposing any deal that cedes land to Russia. This domestic pressure further limits Zelensky’s room for maneuver, even as Western allies increasingly frame the war as unsustainable for global stability.

The Biden administration, which first denounced Trump's direct interaction with Putin, has subsequently changed its approach, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken recognizing the importance of "any viable path to peace." However, the White House continues to emphasize military assistance for Ukraine, approving another $1.5 billion aid package last week, potentially complicating cease-fire talks.