President Vladimir Putin is demanding a written commitment from Western leaders to halt NATO’s eastward expansion and lift key sanctions against Russia as conditions for ending the war in Ukraine.

Following a lengthy call with former US President Donald Trump, Putin agreed to start drafting a peace framework memorandum, though the process’s timeline is unclear.

Kyiv and its allies accuse Moscow of delaying peace talks to solidify battlefield gains, while Putin seeks neutral status for Ukraine and protections for Russian-speaking populations.

NATO maintains its open-door policy, refusing to amend it despite Russian pressure, and the conflict continues to inflict heavy tolls on both nations’ economies and lives.