Putin rejects Ukraine's mutual long-range strike halt proposal, demands Donbas withdrawal
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Ukraine's offer to halt long-range strikes as a tactic to ease pressure on its overstretched forces. He also admitted that Ukrainian drone raids have triggered fuel shortages across Russia and vowed to bolster air defenses.
Putin rejects Ukrainian proposal
Ukraine proposed a mutual cessation of long-range attacks as a confidence-building step toward peace, but Vladimir Putin dismissed it during a televised interview with state media. He argued the proposal was designed to relieve Ukrainian forces along the 1,250-kilometer front line.
Putin claimed that Ukraine's deep strikes were meant to divert Russian forces from the main objectives in Donbas and Novorossiya, the regions Moscow illegally annexed in 2022.It is clear why this proposal is being made, because our counter-strikes deep into Ukrainian territory are much stronger, have a greater impact and, frankly speaking, are more destructive.
Fuel shortages and air defense gaps
Earlier on the same Sunday, Putin acknowledged at a Kremlin meeting that Ukrainian drone attacks had caused fuel shortages in several Russian regions. He stressed the need to strengthen Russia's air defense systems to counter the growing threat to the oil industry. The admission highlights the effectiveness of Ukraine's long-range campaign, which has increasingly targeted refineries and fuel depots.
Donbas withdrawal as key condition
The Russian leader reiterated that a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donetsk region is a prerequisite for any peace agreement. Russia has long insisted on this condition, and Putin framed the conflict as part of a mission to "liberate" Donbas and Novorossiya. Of the four oblasts annexed in 2022, Russia fully controls only Luhansk.
Anticipation of renewed US diplomacy
Putin said he expects the United States to resume diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war and predicted a new visit to Moscow by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner once the "hot phase" of the American-Israeli-Iranian conflict concludes. He also appeared to concur with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent remarks that the 2025 Alaska summit between himself and President Donald Trump produced no signed agreement, though possibilities were discussed.
Nobody signed anything, but we talked about certain possibilities for ending the conflict in Ukraine.
