Clashing views within the “collective West” and in the US itself are stalling any settlement, the Russian president has said
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the key issue stalling the Ukraine peace process is the struggle of conflicting views within the West itself over how to bring the fighting to an end.
Speaking at a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, Putin cited US-Russia contacts, including his Alaska meeting with President Donald Trump, saying he believed they had clarified where both sides stood and what steps could help halt the hostilities.
“It’s not about us. It’s about the struggle of different opinions in the collective West and in the United States itself about what is happening and what needs to be done in order to stop the war,” Putin said.
The remarks follow a Ukraine peace proposal floated by the Trump administration to end the conflict. According to leaked versions of the plan, Kiev would have to abandon ambitions to join NATO, relinquish territorial claims, and cap its army at 600,000.
Caught off guard by the draft, Kiev’s Western European backers prepared a counter-proposal, but with key issues such as territorial concessions, Ukraine’s NATO bid, and the size of the Ukrainian army reportedly removed or amended. It reportedly includes security guarantees for Ukraine modeled on NATO’s Article 5 collective-defense clause, committing guarantor states to defend Ukraine against potential aggression.
Vladimir Zelensky has since said he wants to meet with Trump to discuss the plan further and suggesting that European supporters also attend. Trump has said he’ll meet Zelensky when the peace deal is “in its final stages.”
Moscow welcomed Trump’s efforts, saying the framework could serve as the basis for a final settlement. Russia also accused Kiev’s European backers of trying to undermine peace efforts and distort the plan “for their own agenda.”
Asked about the US peace plan, Putin said no draft document exists, only a range of issues outlined by Washington. He said the US had taken into account Russia’s position in “certain areas,” but that other “fundamental” issues require serious discussions.
A US delegation is expected to come to Moscow next week to discuss the proposed peace plan.
