Kremlin Rejects Report That Putin is Ready to Relinquish Territorial Claims

The Kremlin on Tuesday dismissed a report from the Financial Times that claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to abandon territorial claims in parts of southern and eastern Ukraine in exchange for freezing the conflict along current frontlines.

After referendums were held in the fall of 2022, Russia now claims that the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine are now part of the Russian Federation, though Ukraine still controls around 30% of these territories.

According to the article, the offer was allegedly made during a meeting between Putin and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this month in Moscow.

The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov firmly denied the report, urging the public to rely only on official statements. “There are a lot of fakes being published now, including by respected publications, so you should only listen to the original sources,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian, European, and American officials are expected to meet in London on Wednesday, where it is rumored the U.S. may propose formal recognition of Crimea as part of Russia—an offer Witkoff is reportedly preparing to deliver to Moscow later this week.

President Donald Trump, frustrated by the pace of negotiations, has threatened to withdraw from talks entirely if a deal is not reached soon. However, he has not clarified whether such a withdrawal would also mean cutting military and financial support to Ukraine.

The Biden-era aid package to Ukraine is nearly depleted, and Trump recently declined a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to purchase additional Patriot missile systems.

Observers say any proposed peace deal is unlikely to gain traction in Moscow unless it aligns with the terms laid out by Putin in his June 14, 2024 address to Russia’s Foreign Ministry.