Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has expressed willingness to negotiate with Russia for a ceasefire, saying his delegation will discuss full or partial peace talks in London. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly offered to freeze frontlines and relinquish claims to four provinces in Ukraine. The US has been pushing for concrete progress on a peace deal, threatening to abandon the effort unless tangible results are seen soon.
In a meeting with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this month, Putin proposed halting Russia’s invasion across the frontline and giving up its claims to Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. The offer is seen as a potential negotiating tactic by European officials.
The US has presented proposals for recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and freezing the war’s frontlines, but Ukraine has long rejected Russia’s claim in Crimea. A potential outline of the US proposal includes a ceasefire along current frontlines, recognition of Crimea, relinquishing claims to four Ukrainian provinces, and an international force to monitor a ceasefire.
Zelenskiy’s delegation will meet with Western countries in London on Wednesday to discuss the proposals. The talks come as Ukraine is also negotiating with Washington over sharing its mineral revenues. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not attend the London meeting, but General Keith Kellogg will represent Washington’s interests.
The development comes after a statement from Putin that he was willing to engage in bilateral talks with Zelenskiy for the first time since early in the war. The White House said Witkoff would meet with Putin again later this week in Russia.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-presses-ceasefire-russia-reported-offer-concession-2025-04-22