Putin proposes ceasefire along current front lines in Ukraine conflict

In a surprise move that could mark a turning point in the more than three-year-long war, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a ceasefire that would freeze the conflict in Ukraine along the current front lines.

According to sources close to the Kremlin, the proposal was quietly extended to Western intermediaries earlier this month, suggesting Russia is prepared to halt its military operations if Kyiv agrees to maintain the present territorial status quo.

This would effectively mean Russia retains control over swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine captured since the invasion began in February 2022.

Putin reportedly believes that maintaining the current battle lines—without further territorial advances—could allow Moscow to claim a strategic victory domestically while reducing the economic and human toll of continued fighting.

The Russian leader is also said to be weighing international pressure and the strain of prolonged warfare on the country’s economy and military resources.

In response, Ukrainian officials have reiterated their long-standing position that any peace deal must include the full withdrawal of Russian forces from all occupied Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office dismissed the proposal as "unacceptable," insisting that Ukraine will not legitimize Russia’s occupation of its land through any negotiated settlement that cements current front lines.

"We will not trade our sovereignty for a temporary peace," said a senior Ukrainian adviser.

"Russia started this war, and it must end it by withdrawing completely."

The United States and European allies, while open to negotiations, have also expressed skepticism over Moscow's intentions.

Western diplomats say the Kremlin’s proposal may be an attempt to buy time, regroup militarily, and weaken international resolve.

The White House declined to comment directly on the ceasefire offer but reaffirmed its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

"Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” a spokesperson said.

Analysts suggest the proposal signals a shift in Russia’s strategy, possibly acknowledging the limits of its military capacity after years of grinding conflict, heavy casualties, and international sanctions.

While the idea of a ceasefire could appeal to war-weary populations on both sides, the deep mistrust between Moscow and Kyiv, and the geopolitical stakes for NATO and the EU, make a lasting resolution elusive.

For now, the front lines remain active, with sporadic shelling and clashes continuing in contested regions such as Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.

The world watches closely, hopeful but wary, as the next chapter in this devastating conflict unfolds.