NYT: Putin sends signals to the West through intermediaries that he is ready for 'peaceful' talks on Ukraine

Despite his aggressive statements about his intentions to continue the war in Ukraine, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has been expressing his readiness for a ceasefire and negotiations through diplomatic channels.

The New York Times writes about this, citing former sources close to the Kremlin, as well as American and international officials familiar with the Kremlin's messages.

According to the newspaper's interlocutors, Putin has been hinting since September that he is ready for a truce that would stop the fighting at the current positions. A year ago, in the fall of 2022, American officials add, Putin was interested in a ceasefire agreement after Ukraine defeated the Russian army in the northeast of the country. Putin made it clear that he was satisfied with the captured territory and was ready for a truce.

The newspaper's sources note that Putin's approach to the war is characterized by opportunism and improvisation. the Russian dictator is maneuvering to reduce risks and keep options open in a war that is lasting longer than he expected. The signals are coming through various channels, including third-country governments linked to the United States and Russia.

"They are saying: "We are ready to negotiate a ceasefire". They want to stay where they are on the battlefield," said a senior official who met with Moscow this fall.

"He is indeed ready to stay on the current positions," confirmed a former senior Russian official. At the same time, Putin is "not ready to retreat a meter" from the positions he has taken, he added.

The NYT's interlocutors say that Putin sees the timing of the operation as right: the fighting is stalemated, Ukraine's counteroffensive has failed, and support for the West, which has been focused on the war in Gaza since October, is waning.

There is a perception that Putin benefits from a prolonged war and wants to postpone any negotiations until Donald Trump returns to power in the United States. However, former Russian officials say that Putin would like to conclude a deal sooner: the ideal time, according to one source, would be before the Russian presidential election in March.

American officials note that Putin is no longer demanding that the Zelenskiy government be removed from power in Ukraine. They say that the truce Moscow is proposing preserves a sovereign Ukraine with Kyiv as its capital, but would leave nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory under Russian control. They add that while Putin has been signaling his willingness to reach an agreement, he is waiting for a more concrete proposal.

Kyiv, however, is unlikely to accept such an offer. Some U.S. officials believe that this may be an attempt by the Kremlin to divert attention and does not reflect Putin's true willingness to compromise, as he may change his mind if Russian forces seize the initiative on the battlefield.

Background. As a reminder, Putin accidentally mentioned the number of Russians killed in Ukraine, which is higher than the number reported by Western intelligence.