Vladimir Putin insists that Russia gain control over four Ukrainian regions that it does not fully control as part of any agreement to end the war, reported the agency citing three sources in Moscow familiar with the situation.
This demand deals a blow to US President Donald Trump's efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a sustainable end to the war amid growing discontent in the White House, writes Bloomberg.
Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff tried to persuade Putin to agree to a ceasefire along the current front line during prolonged negotiations in the Kremlin. However, according to sources, Putin maintained a firm stance on the issue of territories.
The agency notes that ultimately the negotiations reached an impasse, and further progress is possible only with direct contact between Putin and Trump.
Putin previously declared that Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson are "forever" part of Russia after holding "referendums" there a few months after the full-scale invasion began in 2022. These territories were included in the Russian Constitution, although Moscow has not managed to establish full control over them.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called these referendums a "violation of the UN Charter and international law," and other countries refused to recognize their results.
The Trump administration declined to comment on the negotiations between Witkoff and Putin. "We do not comment on ongoing negotiations. We continue to move forward in working with both Ukraine and Russia for a peaceful resolution of the conflict," only stated US National Security Council representative James Hewitt.