Putin ready for final peace deal, not short ceasefire, in Ukraine talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is ready to resume trilateral negotiations with Ukraine and the United States, but only to reach a final peace agreement, not a "short" ceasefire. He reiterated demands for Ukrainian territory. Putin stated the talks would address security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia within a final agreement, and also discuss European security architecture. He rejected a Ukrainian proposal to freeze the front line, claiming the eastern Donbas region is "historically Russian territory" and dismissing the idea of a Russian military defeat. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine cannot surrender the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, warning their loss would open the way for Russia to advance toward Dnipro province. Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and parts of Donbas.