Putin demands Ukrainian troops withdraw before ceasefire, as Witkoff set to visit Moscow
Editor's note: The story was updated with additional details.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 27 reiterated his demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw from their current positions as a condition for a ceasefire, even as the U.S. attempts to reinvigorate peace talks.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who faces scrutiny after a leak reportedly caught him coaching a Russian official on how to sway the White House, is expected to travel to Moscow to discuss the latest peace efforts with Putin.
The Russian leader confirmed a visit by the U.S. delegation early next week.
"Ukrainian troops will withdraw from the territories they occupy, and then the fighting will cease," the Russian president told reporters. "If they don't withdraw, we'll achieve this through military force."
Moscow has repeatedly rejected calls by Kyiv and its Western partners for a ceasefire, instead demanding that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region.
Russia illegally declared all of the partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts as its territory during sham referenda in September 2022.
Putin stressed that the recognition of Russian rule over Crimea and Donbas — a demand Kyiv has ruled out — remains a key point in talks with the U.S.
The comments come after the Trump administration unveiled a 28-point peace plan for Ukraine last week, which imposed punishing conditions on Kyiv, including a limit on the military size, a ban on NATO membership, and a Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas.
The plan came as the latest move in Trump's uneven strategy for brokering an end to the all-out war, which is nearing its fourth anniversary.
Speaking at the press briefing, Putin repeated that the U.S. peace plan — which is speculated to be based on a Russian document — could serve as the basis for future agreements, adding that the text needs further discussion.
The initial plan was met with pushback from Ukraine and Europe, and a revised version of the draft was compiled after consultations between U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials in Geneva on Nov. 23.
Putin claimed that after the Geneva negotiations, the plan was divided into four parts, but did not elaborate further.
Commenting on the leaked call between Witkoff and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, Putin said such disclosures could amount to a criminal offense, while not ruling out that the intercepts might be fabricated.
The Kremlin's chief alleged that those targeting Witkoff are the same actors who, alongside Ukraine's leadership, "want to fight until the last Ukrainian." He added, "As I've already said publicly, we're ready for that."
The Russian leader further declared that signing any documents with Ukraine is pointless, implying the Ukrainian leadership is not legitimate due to the postponement of elections.
Ukraine's constitution prohibits holding elections under martial law, which was declared at the outbreak of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.
Putin also ridiculed parts of the proposed peace plan and rejected claims that Russia is preparing to attack European countries — though he said he would be willing to formally put that assurance in writing.
Tensions between European NATO members and Moscow have been surging in recent months, with allies accusing Russia of escalating hybrid operations and warning of an open conflict within the next five years.
