Putin Rejects Trump's Peace Plan: What It Means for the War in Ukraine.

According to ТСН: Vladimir Putin has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to military objectives in Ukraine, for which the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. He rejected a peace deal based on a 28-point American plan.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) describes Putin's speech at a meeting of the Ministry of Defense board.

Statements from the Russian Federation about "Military Objectives"

During his speech, Putin emphasized that Moscow will 'undoubtedly' achieve its military objectives in Ukraine. He noted that Russia allegedly prefers diplomatic means to achieve them. However, if Ukraine and the West refuse to negotiate, the Kremlin intends to 'liberate its historical lands' by military means.

ISW notes that Kremlin officials often speak about large territories of Ukraine that extend beyond the four regions annexed by Russia as 'historical' Russian lands. Notably, they refer to Odessa as a 'Russian' city. This issue also pertains to the term 'Novorossiya,' invented by the Kremlin to describe the southeastern part of Ukraine.

"The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected the peace plans proposed by the USA and Ukraine, trying to shift the blame for the lack of progress in negotiations onto Kyiv. Putin's statement about seizing 'historical' territories of the Russian Federation, if Ukraine and the West refuse to negotiate, is likely aimed at shifting the responsibility for the continuation of Kremlin efforts to achieve Putin’s initial military goals regarding Ukraine, rather than on Russia," American experts believe.

Rejection of the Peace Agreement

The Institute for the Study of War believes that Putin's statements indicate his unwillingness to accept a peace agreement based on Donald Trump's 28-point plan. The Kremlin has openly not acknowledged this proposal and ignores many of its points.

"Such statements from Putin clearly indicate that he has no intention of abandoning his maximalist goals in Ukraine and will seek to achieve them after any ceasefire on terms that do not correspond to these goals. Repeated statements from the Kremlin raise doubts about Putin's readiness to accept even this framework agreement," emphasize American analysts.

Denial of Security Guarantees

Reliable security guarantees for Ukraine are essential for ensuring long-term peace, however, the Kremlin rejects the idea of such guarantees. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that their position regarding foreign military contingents in Ukraine remains unchanged: Russia will not tolerate European security guarantees with troops present on its territory.

Analysts believe that the Kremlin seeks a peace agreement without security guarantees to create conditions for the resumption of aggression against Ukraine in the future, aiming to achieve control over the country.

Putin also noted that Russia has the ability to ramp up its offensive pace in all areas. He claims that Moscow will achieve its objectives by military means if Ukraine and its 'foreign patrons' do not engage in negotiations.

On the other hand, CNN emphasizes that Putin has rejected compromises. He threatened to seize territory by force if necessary, mentioning the 'root causes of the conflict.' U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism regarding the conclusion of a peace agreement, noting that 'we are closer now than we were.'

Thus, Putin's words indicate the Kremlin's relentless pursuit of its objectives in Ukraine. The rejection of a peace agreement could worsen an already complex situation, jeopardizing the possibility of future negotiations. The fixation on Moscow's position regarding 'historical lands' also indicates a continued strategic pressure on Kyiv and the international community.