Putyin feltétele a háború befejezéséhez: Ukrajna területének átadása – Orbán Moszkvában tárgyal

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday, during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, that Russia is willing to halt its offensive in Ukraine under only one condition: “If the Ukrainian forces withdraw from the territories they occupy, we will stop combat operations. If they do not, we will achieve our goals by military means,” according to reports.

Putin reiterated his claim that Russian forces have encircled Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk and Mirnohrad, in the Donetsk region. “Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov have been completely surrounded,” he said, using the Russian names for the Ukrainian cities. He added that Russian troops are advancing near Vovchansk and Siversk, and are approaching the strategically important town of Hulyaipole, asserting that the Russian offensive is “practically impossible to stop.” Ukraine, however, has denied being encircled around Pokrovsk or Mirnohrad, maintaining that its forces continue to hold the front lines.

Meanwhile, the state-owned news agency TASS reported that the United States has delivered to Moscow the parameters of a peace plan for Ukraine, as proposed by Washington and refined after consultations with Ukraine in Geneva. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said the main points have been conveyed and further discussion of the draft will continue in Moscow next week. This likely coincides with reports that Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow next week to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy Rules Out Territorial Concessions

Kyiv responded firmly to Putin’s conditions. Andriy Yermak, the head of the cabinet of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told The Atlantic magazine in an interview that Ukraine will not cede any territory as long as Zelenskyy remains president.

“He will not sign any document on the transfer of territories. The constitution prohibits it. No one can do that without turning against the Ukrainian constitution and the Ukrainian people,” Yermak emphasized.

The chief of staff added that Zelenskyy has drawn a red line on the most contentious issue in negotiations – Russian demands for Ukrainian sovereign territory. “All we can realistically talk about right now is defining the demarcation line. And that’s what we need to do,” he said.

Viktor Orbán to Meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arrived near Moscow early Friday morning, and is scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin later in the day. The visit comes as European nations grapple with energy security concerns amid the ongoing conflict.

Before the visit, Orbán stressed that Hungary’s primary goal is to ensure its energy supply, particularly of gas and oil. He pointed out that energy prices are rising in Europe, while Hungary continues to have some of the lowest prices. He attributed this largely to the favorable price of Russian energy carriers. He also added that the Russian energy sector is under American sanctions, but “it was possible to achieve in Washington an exemption for Hungary.” Therefore, according to Orbán, the main purpose of the Moscow talks is to ensure a stable and affordable energy supply for the winter and next year.

When asked if the process of ending the war could also be discussed, Orbán replied that it would be difficult to avoid.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also confirmed the meeting. Orbán indicated before arriving in Szabadka that the talks would primarily focus on ensuring Russian oil and gas supplies to Hungary, which could also affect Serbia.

Putin Open to U.S. Peace Proposals

During the aforementioned press conference in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, Putin not only issued his ultimatum, but also stated that he considers certain points of the U.S. peace proposal for Ukraine acceptable and that these could form the basis for future agreements. He announced that a U.S. special envoy will soon visit Moscow to further discuss the draft, while the U.S. Secretary of Defense will travel to Kyiv to conduct parallel negotiations.

Putin also mentioned Orbán’s invitation, emphasizing that he respects the Hungarian prime minister’s position, which he assesses as realistic in light of the situation on the ground.

Chaotic Negotiations: How Donald Trump’s Peace Plan is Taking Shape

The international peace plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine has been taking shape for weeks, amid often contradictory and rapid diplomatic shifts. The original 28-point proposal, developed in U.S.-Russian cooperation, was criticized by many for excessively favoring Russian interests: it demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk region, recognized that certain disputed territories would remain under Russian control, limited the size of the Ukrainian army, and definitively ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership.

European reactions – and Kyiv’s sharp protests – prompted Washington to modify the original plans. Reports indicate the new version is more accommodating, including a higher authorized strength for the Ukrainian military and no longer categorically prohibiting NATO membership, but tying it to the consensus of the alliance’s members. Territorial issues remain unresolved.

Zelenskyy has indicated that the new version is more in line with Ukraine’s position, but plans to discuss the most sensitive points personally with Donald Trump.

Europe Presents its Own Proposal

While Washington and Moscow continued negotiations, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany prepared their own alternative plan. This fundamentally revised the 28-point American proposal, differing from it on several key points. Most notably, the European version does not exclude Ukraine’s future NATO membership, but rather states that there is currently no unanimous support for it among member states.

Macron spoke out against limiting the size of the armed forces, while Merz warned that the leaders of the continent should not be excluded from European security policy issues. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, however, continues to advocate that Europe unconditionally support the original Trump plan, as he believes any deviation will only worsen the chances of peace.

The Toughest Obstacles to an Agreement

The peace process revolves around three main issues:

1. the future of occupied territories,
2. limiting the size of the Ukrainian army,
3. Ukraine’s NATO membership.

Moscow expects concessions on these points: the transfer of territories, a reduced army, and the final abandonment of NATO membership. Ukrainian government sources, however, have made it clear that no agreement can be reached under such conditions.

Putin also claims that it is almost legally impossible for Zelenskyy to sign any final agreement – Kyiv says this is merely a delaying tactic.

Russian Forces Continue to Advance Slowly

Russia currently controls approximately one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory. Data from the Institute for the Study of War shows that the front line shifted westward by an average of 467 square kilometers per month in 2025, an acceleration compared to the previous year.

The Russian invasion, launched in 2022, remains Europe’s most serious armed conflict since World War II, having already claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and forced millions to flee their homes.

Follow our live updates on the war in Ukraine, which we have been reporting on since the outbreak of hostilities, by clicking here.

(Cover image: Vladimir Putin on October 23, 2025. Photo: Contributor / Getty Images)