Diplomatic Confusion Between Russia and the West Regarding Ceasefire Conditions in Ukraine

SadaNews Translation - The Wall Street Journal revealed conversations that took place between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with several European leaders, following a sensitive meeting between Russian envoy Weitkov and President Vladimir Putin last Wednesday.

According to the Wall Street Journal report as translated by SadaNews: "Trump stated that Russia showed a willingness to withdraw from the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in exchange for full control over the Donetsk region. However, this proposal quickly faced diplomatic confusion after Weitkov retracted his statements in a subsequent meeting with senior European officials, confirming in a call on Friday that Russia had preliminarily agreed to a ceasefire, on the condition that Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk."

According to Ukrainian sources reported by the German newspaper Bild, Weitkov misinterpreted Putin's messages during the Wednesday meeting. While Putin demanded a complete withdrawal of Ukraine from the territories it still controls in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, Weitkov believed that Putin was suggesting the withdrawal of Russian forces from those areas. This misunderstanding led Weitkov to think that the Russian demands were limited to Donetsk and Luhansk only.

The report also indicated that Weitkov understood that Russia was willing to freeze the fighting in exchange for easing Western sanctions, but Moscow rejected that, only offering a partial ceasefire that would include refraining from attacking energy facilities and major cities in Ukraine, without a comprehensive commitment to stop military operations.

In a related context, NBC reported that the White House is considering inviting Zelensky to join an upcoming summit with Putin next Friday in Alaska, but the details of the invitation have not yet been finalized, amid international anticipation for potential developments in the Ukrainian situation that may arise from this summit, as translated by SadaNews.