Putin rejects softening Ukraine war demands in Kremlin talks, offers short local truce

Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated on Thursday, 12 November 2026, that Russia would not compromise on its demands to end the war in Ukraine. He did so at a Kremlin meeting with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. At the same meeting, Putin offered a short-term ceasefire in a key frontline city.

Putin said he would not water down his demands to control parts of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed. He rejected talk of "grey", or demilitarised, zones between Ukrainian and Russian positions. He also ruled out foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, saying such a deployment would be a "continuation of war".

The envoys came to Moscow after two days of talks in Abu Dhabi. They urged Putin to allow European representatives at the next round of talks. They were due to travel to Dublin later on Thursday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a European summit. The Kremlin televised a lengthy opening exchange of the meeting. Such exchanges are usually held behind closed doors.

According to Daily Sabah, the city named for the ceasefire is Kostyantynivka. The Hindu places the city in Donetsk region but does not name it. Daily Sabah reports that the truce would be modelled on one last month that allowed hundreds of stranded and starving residents to leave the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky. The reports do not describe the truce's duration, monitoring or corridors, or any Ukrainian response.

Daily Sabah also reports that Russian strikes overnight hit a residential building in Kyiv, killing one person. It reports that a car bomb in Saint Petersburg killed a Russian soldier.

The reports by France 24, Daily Sabah and The Hindu use closely matching text and credit no news agency. They do not include any statement from Kushner, Witkoff or the White House.

What is disputed

Control of Kostyantynivka is contested. According to Daily Sabah, Russia claimed in the summer to have captured the city, while Ukraine says fighting for it is ongoing.

What each side says

• Vladimir Putin: Daily Sabah quoted him as saying: "For us, there is only one line of demarcation: the state border. Because then it will be clear and obvious: here are we, and here are you." According to Daily Sabah, he said foreign troops in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target". He proposed a "humanitarian mission" to Kostyantynivka, where he said some 400-500 civilians still live.
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy: He had earlier said there was a "window of opportunity" to achieve "a result" before 2027.
• Kyiv and European leaders: They warn against a new "Yalta" and say talks must first focus on ending the war. According to Daily Sabah, Kyiv says a foreign peacekeeping force is crucial to preventing another Russian attack. Kyiv and Western governments say Russia's annexations are illegal.
• Antonio Costa, EU chief: According to Daily Sabah, he said "there is no need to reinvent the wheel" on Europe's security framework.
• Emmanuel Macron, French President: According to Daily Sabah, he urged Europe to rally behind a "clear and united vision".

Analysis

Putin's position on borders and peacekeepers appears to conflict directly with Kyiv's stated conditions, leaving little visible common ground on core issues. The proposed local truce could test whether limited humanitarian arrangements are possible while broader talks stall, but its terms remain unclear and Ukraine's response is not described in the reports. The US push for European representation could widen the negotiating format or expose divisions over who speaks for Europe. Much depends on the Dublin meeting with Zelenskyy, whose outcome is not yet known. All three reports appear to rest on a single uncredited source, so details may still be clarified.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.