We will accept a ceasefire only if Russia's conditions are met — Will continue fighting until demands are fulfilled: President Vladimir Putin

We will accept a ceasefire only if Russia's conditions are met — Will continue fighting until demands are fulfilled: President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented strict, non-negotiable conditions for peace talks with Ukraine, while continuing missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian territory — sending a clear message: he will only accept a resolution on his own terms, and the fighting will continue until his demands are met.

Although Putin has shown some diplomatic flexibility toward former U.S. President Donald Trump, his demands for peace with Ukraine have been outright rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies. Even Trump, frustrated by Putin’s recent moves, warned:

“Putin is now playing with fire,” said Trump. “If I weren’t around, things could’ve been much worse for Russia.”

In response, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said:

“The only truly ‘very bad’ thing I know is a third world war. I hope Trump understands that.”

Moscow-based analyst Fyodor Lukyanov believes Putin and Trump understand each other psychologically. He said:

“Putin senses that Trump may want a quick solution, and that’s why he’s hoping the U.S. will eventually give in.”

Ukraine is currently facing a severe shortage of weapons — especially air defense systems — which has intensified Russian attacks. Russian forces are advancing rapidly in the Donetsk region and have stepped up offensives in Sumy and Kharkiv as well. Putin has announced plans to create a "buffer zone" along the border.

Putin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson — regions illegally annexed by Russia in 2022. These demands have again been raised in the Istanbul peace talks.

Although Ukraine has agreed to Trump's proposed 30-day ceasefire, Russia has rejected it, insisting that Ukraine must halt troop deployments and suspend the flow of Western weapons as preconditions for any truce.

Minimal progress in negotiations, agreement on prisoner swap

While there has been little progress toward a ceasefire, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 individuals. Russia has announced that it will present a memorandum at the next Istanbul meeting outlining conditions for halting the conflict — though it has refused to make the document public for now.

Tatiana Stanovaya, an analyst at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, commented:

“Putin is adopting a strategy aimed at temporarily appeasing Trump — without making any real concessions.”

Putin claims the war's root causes are Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and the oppression of Russian-speaking populations. He has also demanded Ukraine limit its military capabilities and stop honoring certain historical figures as national heroes — some of whom fought alongside the Nazis.

Russia is being represented in the peace talks by Vladimir Medinsky, who also led negotiations in 2022.

“Russia’s war with Sweden in the 18th century lasted 21 years. History repeats itself.”

This sends a clear signal — Putin is prepared for a prolonged conflict.