Russia Pushes NATO Pullback to 1997 Lines in Ukraine Peace Talks

Russian officials have revived demands that NATO withdraw forces to 1997 positions in closed-door talks with President Trump's envoys on ending the Ukraine war, according to a document obtained by The New York Times. The hard-line stance threatens to derail peace efforts after five years of conflict. The paper, circulated this week and confirmed by a second source, shows President Vladimir Putin has not budged on core objectives despite over 20 months of Trump administration diplomacy. Moscow insists on addressing what it calls "root causes" of the war, including NATO's eastern flank presence in Poland and the Baltics. Economic inducements offered by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have failed to secure concessions. Critics warn the U.S. risks enabling Putin's attempt to reassert Soviet-era influence across regions including Central Asia.