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Summary
Russian sources indicate Putin ready to halt conflict at front
Putin to take more land to pressure Kyiv to talk: sources
Does not want another national mobilisation: sources
Putin has no designs on NATO territory: sources
Russia concerned about nuclear escalation: sources

MOSCOW/LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war in Ukraine with a negotiated ceasefire that recognises the current battlefield lines, four Russian sources told Reuters, saying he is prepared to fight on if Kyiv and the West do not respond.

Three of the sources, familiar with discussions in Putin's entourage, said the veteran Russian leader had expressed frustration to a small group of advisers about what he views as Western-backed attempts to stymie negotiations and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's decision to rule out talks.

"Putin can fight for as long as it takes, but Putin is also ready for a ceasefire – to freeze the war," said another of the four, a senior Russian source who has worked with Putin and has knowledge of top level conversations in the Kremlin.

He, like the others cited in this story, spoke on condition of anonymity given the matter's sensitivity.

For this account, Reuters spoke to a total of five people who work with or have worked with Putin at a senior level in the political and business worlds. The fifth source did not comment on freezing the war at the current frontlines.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in response to a request for comment, said the Kremlin chief had repeatedly made clear Russia was open to dialogue to achieve its goals, saying the country did not want “eternal war.”

Ukraine's foreign and defence ministries did not respond to questions.

The appointment last week of economist Andrei Belousov as Russia's defence minister was seen by some Western military and political analysts as placing the Russian economy on a permanent war footing in order to win a protracted conflict.

It followed sustained battlefield pressure and territorial advances by Russia in recent weeks.

However, the sources said that Putin, re-elected in March for a new six-year term, would rather use Russia's current momentum to put the war behind him. They did not directly comment on the new defence minister.

Based on their knowledge of conversations in the upper ranks of the Kremlin, two of the sources said Putin was of the view that gains in the war so far were enough to sell a victory to the Russian people.

Europe's biggest ground conflict since World War Two has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides and led to sweeping Western sanctions on Russia's economy.

Three sources said Putin understood any dramatic new advances would require another nationwide mobilisation, which he didn't want, with one source, who knows the Russian president, saying his popularity dipped after the first mobilisation in September 2022.

The national call up spooked part of the population in Russia, triggering hundreds of thousands of draft age men to leave the country. Polls showed Putin’s popularity falling by several points.

Peskov said Russia had no need for mobilisation and was instead recruiting volunteer contractors to the armed forces.

The prospect of a ceasefire, or even peace talks, currently seems remote.

Zelenskiy has repeatedly said peace on Putin's terms is a non-starter. He has vowed to retake lost territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. He signed a decree in 2022 that formally declared any talks with Putin "impossible."

One of the sources predicted no agreement could happen while Zelenskiy was in power, unless Russia bypassed him and struck a deal with Washington. However, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Kyiv last week, told reporters he did not believe Putin was interested in serious negotiations.

-More at Link-

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It will probably get rejected.  The politicians in DC want their grift train to keep chugging along.

The only way this war stops is when Russia decides the pain and cost of holding Ukraine far outweigh any benefits.  Hopefully this is a sign they've finally reached that conclusion, or at least getting close.

Big guy aint gettin no 10% out of any ceasefire.

I would say that this will depend on the Ukrainian people. If they have the will to continue fighting to try and regain more of their territory, knowing they could lose more.

But they have to know that any cease fire with Putin is temporary. They will gain a couple years at most that they had better use to fortify the shit out of their border with Russia.

Interesting timing with Chinas Saber rattling yesterday.

To save face, Putin will need to stop on some sort of win. Either that, or he gets replaced for being a failure.

Now is the time to hit him hard.

Ohhhh sure sure sure. Putin is gonna die of cancer any day now remember?

No more stimulus checks for Lockheed and Raytheon

If he wants a ceasefire why do his guys keep attacking?

He’s certainly wanting a ceasefire after losing multiple s400s in one week and Gasprom posting a loss and unable to pay shareholders

Not lookin' good for Dark Brandon. In an honest election.

In before Russian shills?

Putin the man of peace? Just acting christian with an olive branch?

War monger west will reject?

Nope it's upto Zelenskiy and he won't go for it he wants to be the hero no matter how many people die.

So much for no negotiations with the “Kiev regime”.

2 days to Kyiv turned into 2 years of trench warfare.

How did that work out with the previously recognized lines?

Why is that?  I imagine if China makes a move for Taiwan, they won’t be able to provide as much support to Russia as they are now.

Russia can go home anytime if that's the worry.

He can't settle for where the front lines are. He's already claimed 4 Ukrainian oblasts as now being part of Russia. Once they get to the table the Russians will want all of that territory. And any peace with Russia will be temporary.

Putin's check for 10% didn't clear this month?

He knows Trump is going to win by a landslide.
Better to strike a deal with Weak & Creepy Uncle Joe that will give away all of Ukraine because he doesn't know where he is than try to deal with a strong leader.

Realistically I think only Trump getting back in to power has the ability to cool down all these conflicts Biden started.

If Zelenskyy loses the support of the Ukrainian people, the war is over. Simple as that.

The pro Russia crowd here made several predictions that he would be overthrown in a coup…didn’t happen.

Correct however every Russian missile and bomb reinforces their desire to fight.

Biden NEEDS this right now.  If he could somehow swing ceasefire in Ukraine and Israel he MIGHT have a chance in November.  He could ride these headlines while his social media shills swing on his nuts all the way to the polls.  You know CNN and MSNBC are already writing his headlines.

Indeed.  I'm sure, even just for the grift to keep their money laundering ATM going, DC will continue to send billions of dollars.  That should enable them to fortify any border as well as can be done.  I suppose Patton was right, however, when he said "fortifications are monuments to the stupidity of man" but they could at least make it even more painful for Russia to gain ground, should such a situation arise.  Regardless, I am impressed that the Ukraine has defended as well as they have against Russia.  I was sure Russia would take them like the US took Iraq.  I guess I bought into the Russian paper tiger propaganda and/or underestimated the Ukraine.

Good bargain. Putin strong like Uruk-hai. May Cyril bless him. Peace and love forever.

His inner circle has turned on him and will assassinate him before then, any day now

If it were to happen, will sleepy Joe claim/take credit for the end of the war as proof of his leadership abilities?

Exactly, the West doesn't care about the outcome of this conflict it cares about the money and power they can acquire during it.

NATO is fully prepared to fight Russia via proxy to the last Ukrainian so long as there is a single dollar to be made by our so called "elites." You sure as Hell will not see a peace deal before the election, those politicians need every dime they can get their hands on for re-election and the MIC lobbyists aren't going to write checks to those who advocate for peace.

Zelensky shouldn't have talked so much shit to trump.  They've got til Nov and putin knows it too.

They need that time.

Problem is that the Russians would probably make Ukrainian disarmament a condition of any peace settlement.  That would be the toughest point to negotiate.

However, the Russians under Joseph Stalin made a negotiated peace with the Finnish after the Winter War of 1939 and they kept it without further invasion.

Putin clearly only ever wanted to halt NATO expansion.   Barring that and in light of Biden's (NATO's) seemingly intentionally attempting to extend and expand conflict; it seems he was psychotically happy to empty his prisons into the front line (bonus?).

Maybe he has run out of convicts to send to the front with minimal support?

Maybe he realizes how precarious Biden's chances of reelection are and is avoiding either direct entry of the US into conflict, or to end the conflict before a President that isn't demented is elected?

Inb4 people who think it's anyone's decision but Ukraine and Russias whether the fighting continues or not.

I'm sure this story isn't Russian IO like all the others for the last two years.

Many of his inner circle are dead.

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They didn't have a lot of time as the Germans invaded the Sovs 18 months later. Oh and the Fins joined in.

Ok. Did you buy your flight ticket already ?

Sounds like ol' Poot'n has figured out Trump's going to win and wants to freeze everything before he get his ass kicked clear back to south of Crimea.

This is so dumb.  This is like a muscle bound husband beating his wife and saying "I don't want to do this, you are making me.".

No.  Putin is in control of his forces.  If he wants a cease fire he would just order it.  He WANTS capitulation to his desires.  Just like that abusive husband.

Quite a bit of truth here.

Ukraine knows Russia won't give up - they want Odessa as a port and to push Ukraine out from Sevastopol (which have proven to be extremely vulnerable).

The only reason Ukraine would want a peace treaty now is if they believe they will be in better shape in a few years after both sides have had time to rearm. I don't expect them to come to that conclusion.

The frontlines are covered with accurate artillery fire.

Possibly just posturing, so that he can claim, going forward, that it was NATO/America's fault that the war escalated with hundred's of thousands more deaths. Possibly to include blaming NATO/America for him having to use of a strategic nuclear weapon(s). If he does get a ceasefire, it will be temporary, to strengthen his weapons cache & prepare more troops.

Gravy trains about to derail?

Current map of front lines.  
https://liveuamap.com/

Seriously.  Ukraine would have to be absolutely retarded to bet on Russia honoring its promises.  Right after the war started and Russia lost its thunder run to Kyiv there were negotiations that the totally not pro-Russian guys try to pretend didn't happen.  Russia's position was that Ukraine should demilitarize and not join any alliances in exchange for Russia promising once again to not invade.

The only way that a peace deal makes any sense for Ukraine is if they then join NATO.

From Screechjet: Remember when we had strategists and recognized operational level of war experts on the board? Me too.

He is missed and would add much to this conversation.

Since Ukraine no longer bothers with elections how would the Ukrainian people express their support for their current leadership, or the lack of it?

I'll just add that if the current Ukrainian leadership loses the support of the US congress they are also finished.

The whole article, complete with the familiar "anon-y-mouse sources" (aka phoney), sounds like just more BS from a well known BS artist (aka Rueters).

Nothing new, they've hinted at it since last year.

Putin Quietly Signals He Is Open to a Cease-Fire in Ukraine - Dec. 23, 2023

Puff Face Putin. He looks like hell. Even with the makeup.

At this point, I would think Ukrainians are more valuable than land. Cut a deal. It's probably the best it's ever going to be. Europe can't help. And our credit card is over the limit. Maybe Joe will forgive UKR student debt next.