Putin presses for peace: No NATO expansion and Ukrainian neutrality are essential conditions.

In a move reflecting a potential shift in the course of the Russian-Ukrainian war, informed Russian officials revealed that Moscow is finalizing a memorandum containing President Vladimir Putin's conditions for ending the war, preparing to deliver it to Washington and Kyiv soon. According to sources cited by Reuters, Putin's conditions include written guarantees from Western leaders not to expand NATO eastward, excluding Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and former Soviet states from formal alliance membership. The Kremlin considers this condition essential for protecting Russian national security. Putin also stipulates that Kyiv adopts a neutral stance and does not join any military alliance against Russia. Moscow also demands the lifting of a significant portion of Western sanctions imposed on it, resolving the issue of frozen Russian sovereign assets in the West, and providing legal and cultural protection for Russian speakers within Ukrainian territories. A source close to the Kremlin clarified that Putin will not enter into an agreement that does not meet these conditions, and if he feels that achieving peace is not possible on his terms, he will continue to escalate to convey a message that "tomorrow's peace will be more elusive than today's." Another high-ranking source confirmed that the Russian president is ready for peace, but "not at any cost." Russian statements coincided with American escalation, with the US President strongly criticizing Putin and describing his positions as dangerous, while the Kremlin cast doubt on the familiarity of some Western leaders, including Trump, with the conflict details. Nevertheless, Moscow affirmed that it is moving forward in preparing an official document for peace talks. These conditions clearly reveal that Moscow is not only seeking to halt the fighting but also to reshape the security balance in Europe.