Trump’s team floats Ukraine ceasefire deal to Russia: Sanctions relief, territorial gains & more?

(FILES) US President Donald Trump (R) attends a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin during the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019.

Russia has received a favourable ceasefire proposal from US President Donald Trump’s circle, coordinated with key European powers, according to a report by Polish outlet Onet.

The report states that Trump’s representatives suggested Moscow declare a ceasefire in Ukraine, or possibly agree to full peace, and in exchange, the United States would recognise Russia’s current territorial gains. In addition, most US sanctions would be lifted, and Russia would be allowed to resume oil and gas exports to the European Union, as it did prior to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The US also reportedly expects Russia to ease its stance on NATO’s eastward expansion and to accept continued American military aid to Ukraine, despite a ceasefire.

According to Onet, the ceasefire plan was delivered by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. The outlet notes that the proposal was discussed and agreed upon with European powers and formally presented to Moscow on behalf of the United States.

Witkoff also proposed a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but according to the report, Russia did not respond to that offer.

Following the Putin-Witkoff meeting, the Kremlin confirmed that a summit between Trump and Putin is expected in the “coming days,” with the United Arab Emirates named by Putin as a possible venue. The meeting would be the first in-person summit between sitting U.S. and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021.

This comes as three rounds of direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv have failed to produce any breakthrough. Meanwhile, Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to end the war, told reporters on Wednesday that he is likely to meet Putin face-to-face “very soon.”

Trump and Putin last met in person at the G20 summit in Japan in 2019, though they have spoken several times since Trump returned to the White House.