Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a bold diplomatic move that has already stirred debate across Western capitals, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a far-reaching peace proposal to former U.S. President Donald Trump during a recent private summit. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the proposal centers on significant territorial concessions from Ukraine and a series of geopolitical guarantees for Moscow, with China named as a potential guarantor.
The proposal, revealed by sources to Axios and corroborated by Reuters, lays out a path to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, though under conditions heavily skewed in Russia’s favor. Chief among them: Ukraine must withdraw entirely from the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, two of the four partially occupied regions that Moscow claims as Russian territory. In exchange, Putin expressed willingness to freeze the front lines in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces have struggled to make significant advances in recent months.
Notably, the Russian leader also reportedly offered a limited return of territory in the northern regions of Sumy and north-eastern Kharkiv both under partial Russian control, though the scale of such a concession remains vague. These gestures appear to be intended to frame the proposal as a balanced compromise, though Ukrainian and Western officials remain deeply skeptical.
As part of the wider plan, Putin is also demanding official U.S. recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, as well as guarantees that Ukraine will never be permitted to join the NATO alliance. He further expects a rollback of Western sanctions, many of which have crippled key sectors of the Russian economy since the invasion began.
Despite the overtures, sources close to the negotiations caution that Moscow is unlikely to agree to a ceasefire unless a comprehensive agreement is reached. This condition has raised alarms in Kyiv and other Western capitals, where officials suspect that Russia may simply be trying to cement gains and regroup militarily.
Trump’s Role and the Path Forward
After the summit, Trump reportedly briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and top European leaders including those from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Finland on Putin’s demands during a late-night call en-route to Washington. According to sources, Trump described the meeting with Putin as “successful” and claimed both sides found common ground on most issues, despite the Russian leader’s continued insistence on key territorial and political red lines.
Trump expressed interest in organizing a trilateral summit with Zelensky and Putin as early as August 22, and has invited European leaders to join discussions at the White House. While no formal commitment has been made by Putin to attend such a meeting, Trump’s push for a direct three-way summit signals his intent to broker a headline-grabbing diplomatic breakthrough.
Notably, Trump also raised the concept of security guarantees for Ukraine, an idea long discussed by Kyiv and its European allies, especially in the absence of formal NATO membership. According to Ukrainian sources, Trump made clear this would not be a NATO mission, but may involve a “coalition of the willing” to serve as a deterrent against future Russian aggression. Ukraine is hoping that the U.S. would play a central role in shaping and supporting this initiative, details of which are expected to be discussed further during Zelensky’s upcoming visit to Washington.
European Caution and Strategic Implications
While the proposal is being examined, European officials have expressed deep reservations. The deal would effectively legitimize Russia’s territorial claims in Ukraine and abandon Kyiv’s long-standing objective of regaining full control over its internationally recognized borders. Western analysts argue that accepting such a plan would reward military aggression and set a dangerous precedent in international relations.
Moreover, the mention of China as a possible guarantor raises additional geopolitical questions. By involving Beijing, Moscow appears to be signaling its preference for a security framework outside the Western-dominated NATO structure, possibly aiming to undercut U.S. influence in the region.
As the world watches closely, it remains uncertain whether this proposal will evolve into a serious peace process or serve merely as a tactical maneuver by Moscow to buy time. Either way, the coming weeks are poised to test the diplomatic skills of all players involved and could mark a turning point in a war that has now dragged on for more than three years.
