Putin proposed a ceasefire in the current front-line areas, marking his first indication of possibly abandoning the highest demands for military action.

According to the Financial Times, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed to halt the offensive against Ukraine on the current front line as part of efforts to reach a peace deal with Trump, according to people familiar with the matter. Putin told Trump's envoy earlier this month that Moscow could relinquish its claims to four parts of Ukraine's occupied areas, which remain under Kiev's control, three of the people said. The United States has since proposed possible solutions, which include Washington's recognition of Russian ownership of the Crimean peninsula, as well as recognition of Russia's de facto control over parts of the four regions it currently controls. This is the first time since the outbreak of the conflict three years ago that Putin has officially said that Russia may abandon the highest demands of its military operation. But European officials have warned that Putin could use the apparent concession as a bait to induce Mr. Trump to accept Russia's other demands and impose them on Ukraine as a fait accompli. "Kyiv is currently under a lot of pressure to give up something so that Trump can declare victory," one of them said. ”