Among Vladimir Putin's conditions for ending the war in Ukraine is a demand that Western leaders make a written commitment to halt NATO's eastward expansion and lift some sanctions on Russia.

Reuters writes in an exclusive on its website. Putin is ready to make peace, "but not at any price," a senior Russian source said. Three Russian sources told Reuters that Putin wants a "written" commitment from major Western powers not to expand the NATO alliance, which amounts to formally excluding the membership of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova.

Moscow also wants Ukraine's neutrality, the lifting of some Western sanctions, a resolution of the issue of frozen Russian sovereign assets in the West and the protection of Russian-speakers in Ukraine, the three sources told Reuters.

The first source said that if Putin realizes that he is unable to reach a peace agreement on his terms, he will try to demonstrate to the Ukrainians and Europeans with military victories that "tomorrow's peace will be even more painful."

Moscow also responded to Trump, who yesterday accused Putin of "playing with fire." "We understand that Donald Trump wants a quick solution to the conflict, but Russia's national interests are above everything else," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

As for a personal meeting between Putin and Zelensky, it can only take place after "specific agreements" on the topics under discussion, Peskov cut short.

(Unioneonline/L)

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