Putin Raises Demands for Ukraine Peace, Reviving NATO Expansion Proposal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has escalated his demands for peace with Ukraine, reviving a controversial 2021 proposal that would bar Ukraine and Georgia from NATO membership and roll back alliance infrastructure in Eastern Europe. Moscow views the inclusion of European security in negotiations as a strategic victory. The Kremlin has resurrected draft treaties with the US and NATO that were shelved in 2021, while Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov signals new demands will be added in response to Western efforts to inflict strategic defeat on Russia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas insists a ceasefire must precede any broader security discussions. Putin has recently received calls from Norwegian and Finnish leaders, and may meet Donald Trump and Xi Jinping next week in Shenzhen, with Russian media comparing the potential gathering to the 1945 "Big Three" summit. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said dialogue depends on understanding Western intentions regarding peace facilitation.