Vladimir Putin has reportedly named "his three demands" to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Since February 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to widespread devastation, and despite various efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, no lasting peace deal has been reached between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Due to this, President Donald Trump has taken on the role of a mediator by attempting to facilitate peace talks between the two warring nations.
On August 15, he had a meeting with Putin at the summit in Alaska, despite the Russian President's reluctance to engage in meaningful talks.
Following his meeting with the 72-year-old, Trump shared his belief on Truth Social, stating that Zelenskyy could end the war "almost immediately" if he chooses to.
"President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight," he wrote. "Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!"
It’s clear that Zelenskyy is unwilling to concede Crimea to Russia, and even if he wanted to, he likely could not.
According to sources who spoke to Reuters, Russia has now formally issued its demands for a resolution to the war.
The outlet reported that Putin's three primary demands for a resolution to the war include: Ukraine halting its pursuit of NATO membership, the removal of Western troops from Russian soil, and a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas region, which Russia currently controls.
These demands follow Russia's control of about 88 percent of Donbas, as well as 73 percent of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. In return, Putin is reportedly willing to halt the front lines in the contested areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
This new round of diplomatic efforts also comes after NATO defense chiefs held a virtual meeting with Ukraine to discuss security guarantees.
Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, expressed confidence following the “great, candid discussion” among the 32 NATO defense chiefs, emphasizing the alliance's united stance and continued support for Ukraine.
"I thanked everyone for their always proactive participation in these meetings: we are united, and that unity was truly tangible today, as always," he wrote. "On #Ukraine, we confirmed our support. Priority continues to be a just, credible, and durable peace.
"Our thoughts remain with the [Ukraine] brave brothers and sisters in arms. We praise their relentless courage in defending their homeland," he added.
As the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine remain tense, Trump has suggested that any deal may involve territorial concessions from Ukraine - a proposal that remains highly controversial.
Other European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have also pushed for a resolution. In a joint statement, they expressed their willingness to collaborate with both Trump and Zelenskyy to convene a trilateral summit with European support, but reiterated that the decisions regarding Ukrainian territory must ultimately be made by Ukraine.
They also stated that “international borders must not be changed by force," and added that they welcomed “President Trump’s efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace”.