Putin rejects Western peace proposals, peacekeeping troops - ISW report

Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have explicitly rejected any concessions in future peace talks or accepting any peace proposals from the United States, Europe, or Ukraine.

This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), CE Report quotes Ukrinform.

During a visit to the Moscow office of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation on March 6, Putin emphasized that Russia has no intention to "give it to anyone" or make any compromises in future peace negotiations. He added that Russia must choose a peace settlement option that "best suits" Russia and ensures peace in the long term.

"Putin stated that Russia "will not give up" its "own" territory in future peace negotiations — likely referring to illegally annexed territory in occupied Ukraine," the ISW analysts noted.

The report also mentions that Putin declared 2025 as the "Year of the Defender of the Fatherland," highlighting Moscow's efforts to prioritize the militarization of Russian society and consolidate support for Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine this year.

Additionally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during a press conference, stated that Moscow would not consider any initiatives regarding the deployment of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. According to him, such actions would be akin to the deployment of NATO forces, and therefore, Russia would consider them as direct involvement of the Alliance in the war.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also rejected the possibility of a negotiated ceasefire and the deployment of European troops in Ukraine. She stated that Russia considers any proposal that provides Ukraine with a "respite" along the front line unacceptable.

"Lavrov and Zakharova are explicitly rejecting US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's February 12 suggestion that European and non-European countries should station troops in Ukraine to enforce any future peace agreement," the ISW emphasized.

Furthermore, Lavrov stated that Russia would insist on considering the so-called "root causes" of the war, including halting NATO’s expansion and security guarantees for Russia. He claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump supposedly "understands" these demands, while European countries are attempting to "ignore" them.

"Russian officials often invoke the concept of ‘root causes’ to allude to their demands for NATO to abandon its open-door policy and to blame the West and Ukraine for Putin's decision to invade Ukraine," the analysts noted.