What Putin wants to end his war in Ukraine: Glimpsing Russia’s Ukraine deal

Russia would be willing to relinquish small pockets of occupied Ukrainian territory, while Kyiv might have to cede swathes of its eastern land that Moscow has so far failed to capture, under peace proposals discussed by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump at their Alaska summit, sources briefed on Moscow’s thinking told Reuters.

The summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage marked the first meeting between a U.S. president and Putin since before the start of the Ukraine war, Reuters reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to travel to Washington on Monday to discuss a potential settlement.

Although the summit did not produce a ceasefire, Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he and Putin had “largely agreed” on land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine. “I think we’re pretty close to a deal,” he said, adding: “Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they’ll say ‘no.’”

Sources said under the proposed Russian plan, Kyiv would fully withdraw from the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for Moscow freezing front lines in southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Russia would also return comparatively small areas in northern Sumy and northeastern Kharkiv, which together total around 440 square kilometers, according to Ukraine’s Deep State battlefield mapping project. By contrast, Ukraine controls roughly 6,600 square kilometers in Donbas, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ukraine has already rejected any retreat from its eastern territory, particularly in Donetsk, where its forces are entrenched. Kyiv says these areas form a crucial defensive buffer against deeper Russian attacks.

The sources added that Putin seeks at least formal recognition of Russian control over Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, as well as the lifting of some sanctions imposed on Russia. Ukraine would be barred from joining NATO, although some security guarantees could be offered, including a possible “Article 5”-style pledge outside the alliance.

Russia would further demand official status for the Russian language in parts of Ukraine and freedom for the Russian Orthodox Church, which Kyiv’s security services accuse of aiding Moscow’s war effort. Ukraine has passed legislation banning Russia-linked religious organizations but has yet to enforce it.

Trump and Putin’s meeting in Alaska: background

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on the night of August 16 in a “3 on 3” format. The meeting lasted nearly three hours, marking their longest conversation to date. According to Trump, the summit was “productive,” and many issues were discussed, though not all of them were fully agreed upon, so there is no agreement yet.

The U.S. president said he would soon call NATO representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other leaders. He also noted that an agreement was nearly reached during the Alaska summit, and now a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin is planned with Trump’s participation.

On the morning of August 16, Trump spoke by phone with Zelenskyy, joined by several European leaders. During the conversation, Zelenskyy accepted Trump’s invitation to visit Washington on Monday, August 18.

Trump said that after his talks with Putin in Alaska, and following discussions with Zelenskyy and EU leaders, the parties concluded that the best way to end the war is to immediately conclude a peace agreement, skipping a temporary ceasefire.

Following the Alaska meeting, the leaders of Germany, France, Poland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, together with Zelenskyy, prepared a joint statement.