Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his first public reaction Thursday to the Trump administration’s 28-point peace proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, saying the U.S. plan reflects elements of Russia’s position and could serve as a “basis” for further negotiations. At the same time, he stressed that the draft is far from a finished product and described it as a series of unresolved questions that would require extensive discussion before any agreement could be reached.
Putin, speaking during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, acknowledged that the White House proposal took Russia’s perspective into account—something he suggested had not always been the case in earlier diplomatic efforts. “Some of our partners try to rush this agreement,” he said, signaling that Moscow will not be pressured into accepting terms before it believes the conditions are right.
The Russian leader also addressed, for the first time, leaked transcripts reported by Bloomberg News that appeared to show U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff advising top Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov on how to navigate conversations with President Donald Trump. Putin questioned the authenticity of the transcripts but insisted that if they are real, the recordings themselves would constitute a crime. “Maybe they’re fakes, maybe they are eavesdropped conversations,” he said. “But it’s a crime to intercept calls.”
Beyond diplomacy, Putin made clear that Russia is not preparing for an immediate cease-fire. Instead, he boasted that Russian forces were making steady progress each month on the battlefield—an assertion that fits Moscow’s messaging but contradicts Western assessments of the front-line situation. “When Ukrainian troops leave the territories they hold, then the fighting will stop,” Putin declared. “If they don’t, then we’ll achieve that through military means.”
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, leading to years of conflict and failed negotiations under the Biden administration. The Trump White House’s new peace framework—unveiled last week—features provisions that have drawn intense debate. Among them: capping the size of Ukraine’s military, blocking Ukraine from joining NATO, and requiring Ukraine to cede eastern territory to Russia, including land Russia has failed to capture in nearly four years of fighting.
Putin acknowledged that the plan, even in its early form, could potentially serve as the foundation for serious talks. “As a whole it could be the basis for some future agreement,” he said. “Each of these questions is a separate area, you have to work hard on every one.” The draft proposal has since been adjusted with input from Ukraine and European nations, though key disagreements remain unresolved.
Despite emphasizing that he sees no immediate path to a cease-fire, Putin praised the Trump administration for what he described as a more realistic approach to Russia’s position in the conflict. “We appreciate the effort,” he said, adding that the U.S. appeared to be considering Russia’s concerns more carefully than in previous attempts.
He also revealed that a U.S. delegation is expected to visit Moscow next week for additional discussions—an indication that the Trump administration intends to continue its diplomatic push.
Putin’s remarks underscore that while Moscow is not ready to halt its military campaign, it is willing to engage with the Trump administration’s proposal—albeit on its own terms.
