Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to discussions with Trump on a ceasefire deal in Ukraine, but has ruled out making major territorial concessions and is demanding that Kiev abandon its ambitions to joined NATO, five sources told "Reuters".
In the first detailed report on what Putin would accept in any deal brokered by Trump, the five current and former Russian officials said the Kremlin could agree to a general freeze on the frontline conflict.
There may be room for negotiation over the exact division of the four eastern regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson, according to three of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues.
While Moscow claims the four regions are fully part of Russia, protected by the country's nuclear umbrella, its forces on the ground control 70-80% of the roughly 26,000 square kilometer territory still held by Ukrainian troops. show frontline analytics.
Russia may also be ready to withdraw from the relatively small swaths of territory it holds in the Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions in northern and southern Ukraine, two of the officials said.
Sources said Joe Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to launch US ATACMS missiles deep into Russia could complicate and delay any settlement - and strengthen Moscow's demands as hardliners push for more of Ukraine.< /p>