Putin sticks to his guns: No softening of demands as war hits fourth year

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fourth year, President Vladimir Putin shows no sign of softening his demands for peace, maintaining an unyielding stance on territorial claims and conditions. 

Putin has recently expressed conditional support for a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the US, which Ukraine has agreed to, but raised concerns over its implementation, particularly in terms of verification along the front line. This stance allows Russia to engage in further talks without outright rejecting the offer, according to US media.

Moreover, Putin suggested that the 30-day pause could enable Ukraine to regroup and rearm, proposing conditions such as halting Western arms supplies and banning mobilization. However, these terms are unlikely to be accepted by Ukraine and its allies.

Russia, which currently controls about 20 per cent of Ukraine, is determined to retain the territory it has seized. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s stance, saying, “Crimea, Sevastopol, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk — these are regions of Russia. They are enshrined in the constitution. This is an established fact.” Russia annexed Crimea and Sevastopol in 2014 and illegally annexed additional regions in 2022.

Putin also demands the recognition of Russia’s territorial claims and Ukraine’s abandonment of its NATO aspirations. In return, he promises to halt military operations. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has maintained that Ukraine will not surrender any sovereign land and is now focusing on seeking security guarantees rather than an immediate return of occupied territories.

The Kremlin also rejected the idea of foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine, a proposal that European nations have considered as a security guarantee. Russian officials warned that the involvement of NATO countries would lead to a strong response from Moscow.

As peace talks continue, Russia is also pushing for sanctions relief, with US sanctions severely impacting its economy and military capabilities. Despite public demands for the removal of all sanctions, Moscow may privately welcome any easing of restrictions, which could weaken Western unity on enforcing economic penalties.

By Naila Huseynova