Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly proposed halting the war in Ukraine along the current front lines, signaling a potential breakthrough in peace talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to sources familiar with recent discussions, Putin told Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, that Russia may be willing to drop its claims to areas of four partially occupied Ukrainian regions still controlled by Kyiv.

The offer marks the most significant softening of Moscow’s position since the early months of the invasion, raising hopes for a negotiated end to the conflict. U.S. officials have floated a framework that includes recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea and acknowledging its current hold on parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, in exchange for a ceasefire.

However, European officials remain wary, suggesting Putin may be using the proposal to pressure Trump into securing concessions at Ukraine’s expense. “There’s real pressure on Kyiv to concede so Trump can claim a win,” said one European diplomat.

Ukrainian leaders are set to meet U.S. and European officials in London this week to discuss the proposal. However, Witkoff and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have pulled out of the meeting, raising questions about Washington’s commitment to the process. Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg is still expected to attend, while Witkoff is scheduled to visit Moscow for further talks.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed ongoing negotiations, calling the discussions “difficult and time-consuming,” and adding that progress would not happen publicly.

Trump expressed optimism in a weekend social media post, saying he hoped for a deal “this week” and envisioned renewed economic cooperation between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S.

The U.S. proposal includes deploying a European-led peacekeeping force—distinct from NATO—along a demilitarized buffer zone across the more than 1,000-kilometer front line. This multinational force would work with Ukrainian and Russian troops to enforce the ceasefire.

Under the tentative terms, Ukraine would agree not to use force to retake occupied territory, and Russia would halt its ongoing advances. It remains unclear whether Trump has explicitly asked Ukraine to formally recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed he has not received a detailed peace proposal from Trump but said he is open to direct talks with Putin once a ceasefire is in place. “There are signals and discussions, but no official offer,” Zelenskyy said, adding, “If one comes, we will respond.”

Despite some openness to U.S. suggestions, Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine will never accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea. “It’s Ukrainian land—there’s nothing to negotiate,” he said.

Sources also noted that Russia has rejected some U.S. ideas, including any NATO troop presence in Ukraine. Still, insiders say Putin may be willing to compromise on his demand for full control over the four contested regions in return for broader geopolitical concessions—such as a U.S. pledge to keep Ukraine out of NATO.

Although Russian constitutional amendments prohibit giving up any territory, Kremlin-connected columnist Konstantin Remchukov recently hinted that Moscow might declare an end to hostilities once it regains full control of its border region of Kursk. Ukrainian forces briefly entered the region last year, but the Kremlin now claims it is 99.5% under Russian control.

“It’s believed Trump understands this strategy through Witkoff,” Remchukov wrote. “The hope is that peace can be declared by April 30, so Trump can claim a diplomatic victory within his first 100 days in office.”