On April 22, 2025, the Financial Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed freezing the conflict in Ukraine while maintaining control over territories under Russian occupation. According to three sources familiar with the talks, the proposal was made during a meeting between Putin and Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the sources, Putin’s proposal would involve a ceasefire without formally recognizing new territories but maintaining the current frontline, effectively cementing Russian control over about 20% of Ukraine’s former territory, including parts of the Donbas, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, and Crimea.

The meeting in St. Petersburg, which lasted more than four hours, was the third between Putin and Witkoff since the beginning of 2025 and was devoted to finding ways to end the conflict in Ukraine. Witkoff, a close friend of Trump and a successful American real estate developer with no diplomatic experience, was appointed special envoy to negotiate with Russia, causing a mixed reaction in the United States and Europe. Earlier, in an interview with Tucker Carlson on March 21, 2025, Witkoff publicly supported the idea of ​​transferring four regions to Russia, calling them “Russian-speaking” and referring to “referendums” that the West considers sham. These statements drew sharp criticism from Kyiv and European allies, who fear that the Trump administration is leaning toward concessions to the Kremlin.

Putin's proposal to freeze the conflict, analysts say, reflects Moscow's confidence in its position on the battlefield, where Russian forces continue to make slow advances. But it runs counter to Ukraine's demands for full restoration of its territorial integrity, including Crimea, and its refusal to compromise.

The Russian side has not yet provided any official comments.