US media: Putin is reported to be willing to cease fire in exchange for territory in eastern Ukraine

According to the Wall Street Journal, European and Ukrainian officials have revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin this week presented the Trump administration with a comprehensive proposal involving a ceasefire in Ukraine, demanding major territorial concessions from Ukraine and pushing for global recognition of its claims in exchange for a halt to military operations. European officials have expressed serious concerns about the proposal because it would mean Ukraine would have to hand over the eastern region of Ukraine, including the Donbas region, while Russia has committed little to anything other than a halt to military operations. Putin triggered urgent diplomatic consultations after he relayed the proposal to U.S. Middle East envoy Witkov in Moscow on Wednesday. This week, European and Ukrainian officials have expressed concern that Putin is simply using the proposal as a ploy to circumvent new U.S. sanctions and tariff penalties that are about to be imposed.