The prestigious American newspaper Wall Street Journal, Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented a plan to immediately end the war in Ukraine during a meeting held with the American envoy, Steve Witkoff.
According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, the plan proposed by the Kremlin envisages international recognition of Russia's full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, known together as Donbass, as well as official recognition of the annexation of the Crimean peninsula, occupied by Moscow since 2014.
The peace plan is said to be divided into two phases. Initially, Ukraine is expected to withdraw its forces from Donbas and legally accept Russia's annexation of Crimea. At this point, a ceasefire will be declared along the current front lines in the Kherson, Zaporizhia and Donbas regions.
In the final phase of the agreement, Russia will partially withdraw from the occupied territories in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, thus allowing for a peace agreement through a territorial exchange formula.
According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Russia currently controls about 26% of the Kherson region and over 70% of the territory of Zaporizhzhia. Meanwhile, in the Donbas, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk, Moscow controls more than 80% of the territory.
The plan, according to the Wall Street Journal, is expected to be discussed by President Putin and US President Donald Trump at a possible meeting on Friday. However, the proposal has been met with skepticism by Kiev and European leaders, who see it as an attempt by Russia to consolidate territorial gains and reduce pressure from international sanctions.
