• Putin claims a US-backed peace plan could form the basis for future agreements.
• He insists Ukrainian troops must withdraw from occupied territories for negotiations to proceed.
• Russia rejects the legitimacy of Ukraine’s leadership, complicating potential peace talks.
• International recognition of Russian territorial claims is crucial for Moscow.
• Upcoming discussions in Moscow and Kyiv signal continued diplomatic efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that elements from the recently discussed US-backed peace proposal could provide a foundation for future agreements to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, he asserted that this can only happen if Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories claimed by Russia, a condition he reiterated during his remarks in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on November 27, 2025. "If Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold, then we will stop combat operations," Putin said. "If they don't, then we will achieve this by military means," according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

Putin asserted that Russia's conditions for peace discussions include recognition of its claims over Crimea and the Donbas region, both of which Ukraine firmly states it will not cede. "It is legally impossible to sign a deal with Ukraine because I consider its leadership to be illegitimate," he remarked, emphasizing that any agreement must be acknowledged by the international community, echoing statements from Le Monde and South China Morning Post.

The US's recent peace proposal has been described by Putin as an outline of issues rather than a formal draft agreement, hinting at ongoing negotiations. He noted that progress might be made through discussions involving US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who plans to visit Moscow next week. The Kremlin believes the US is beginning to accommodate some of Russia's concerns in these talks, which was mentioned in reports from ABC News and Channel News Asia.

Despite the apparent willingness for negotiations, consensus remains distant, as Ukraine continues to reject any discussion of territorial concessions. Putin stated he believes that the US’s proposals should be carefully considered, emphasizing that precise diplomatic language is critical to any potential agreement. "Overall, we agree that this could form the basis for future agreements," he stated, as cited by CBS News and Los Angeles Times.