Putin calls US Ukraine talks 'complex work,' confirms discussing Trump plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered details on Thursday regarding recent diplomatic talks with U.S. negotiators, characterizing a five-hour meeting with American envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner as "necessary and beneficial." In an interview with India Today TV, Putin stated that the discussions centered on a U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, which he said is derived from agreements reached during his August summit with President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska.

Details of the Negotiation Process

Putin confirmed that the substance of Trump's proposals, previously outlined in a 28-point plan, remains the basis for current talks, though he noted the points have now been grouped into four separate packages for discussion. "Exactly these points are being discussed... fundamentally, these are the same points," he explained. The Russian leader described Trump as seeking a consensus but acknowledged the difficulty of the task, stating, "I agreed with some points of Trump's plan and disagreed with others... this is a complex work."

Criticism of EU and Historical Justification

Putin used the opportunity to criticize the European Union's role, suggesting European nations should engage constructively in the settlement process rather than hinder it. He also revisited Moscow's narrative on the conflict's origins, claiming Russia had initially proposed that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the Donbas region to avoid war. "We immediately told Ukraine... withdraw your troops and there will be no military action. No, they prefer to fight. Well, now they've fought themselves into a corner," Putin said.

Future of Donbas and Novorossiya

Regarding the future of eastern Ukraine, Putin reiterated a firm position, asserting that Russian control over the Donbas and the historically referenced region of Novorossiya is inevitable. "Everything comes down to this. Either we will liberate these territories by military means, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories and stop fighting there," he argued, framing the outcome as a binary choice between continued conflict or Ukrainian withdrawal.