Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly offered a major proposal to the United States regarding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, seeking full control of the Donetsk region as a condition for a ceasefire.

The revelation was reported by The Washington Post on October 18, citing two senior US officials familiar with the matter. The proposal was allegedly conveyed by Putin during a private phone call with US President Donald Trump this week.

The Proposed Deal

According to the sources, President Putin indicated a willingness to make territorial concessions in exchange for complete control over Donetsk:

Russia’s Demand: Russia is demanding full control of the Donetsk province.
Russia’s Offer: Putin reportedly expressed readiness to relinquish certain parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions that Russian forces currently partially occupy.

Reactions and Context

The reported offer has elicited mixed reactions from US and European officials, highlighting the sensitivity of the proposal:

US Perspective: Some White House officials described the proposal as a “step forward” or “progress,” suggesting it could be a meaningful shift in Russia’s negotiating stance.
European Skepticism: Conversely, a senior European diplomat warned that Ukraine would likely view the proposal “very differently,” indicating potential resistance from Kyiv to the suggested territorial exchange.

President Trump has not yet publicly addressed the Kremlin’s specific proposal. However, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on October 17, Trump publicly called for Russia and Ukraine to cease fighting and move toward an agreement.

A Notable Shift in Russia’s Position

If The Washington Post‘s report is accurate, this proposal would represent a significant change in Vladimir Putin’s stated demands from earlier this year.

Previous Stance (April): Back in April, Putin had rejected a US proposal to simply freeze fighting along the current front lines. He insisted that any peace deal must grant Russia full control over the Crimean Peninsula and the four eastern and southern Ukrainian regions that Moscow partially controls and claims to have annexed: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
Current Proposal: The new reported offer indicates a willingness to trade partial control in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to solidify control over the entirety of Donetsk.

The future of these discussions remains open. Putin and Trump are expected to further deliberate on the Ukraine conflict during an upcoming summit scheduled to take place in Hungary in the coming weeks.