Putin indicates readiness for deal and cease-fire in Ukraine since September – NYT

Despite recent statements by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that his goals in the war against Ukraine have not changed, he is signaling through backroom diplomatic channels that he is ready to make a deal.

The New York Times writes about it.

The publication spoke to two former high-ranking Russian officials close to the Kremlin, US officials and international officials who received communications from Putin's representatives.

Emboldened by Ukraine's failed counteroffensive and weak Western support, Putin is said to say that Russia's military goals have not changed. Addressing his generals, he boasted that Ukraine was so under siege that the invading Russian troops were doing "what we want."

According to the newspaper's sources, since September, Putin has been sending signals through intermediaries that he was open to a ceasefire that would freeze fighting along the current front line, which was far from consistent with his ambitions to dominate Ukraine.

In fact, according to US officials, Putin tried to probe the possibility of a ceasefire agreement a year earlier, in the fall of 2022. This previously unreported quiet performance came after Ukraine routed the Russian army in the country's northeast. Putin noted that he was satisfied with the territory captured by Russia and was ready for a truce, officials said.

The NYT notes that dozens of interviews with Russians who have known him for a long time and with international officials well-versed in the inner workings of the Kremlin show that the leader is maneuvering to reduce risks and keep his options open in a war that lasts longer than he expected.

"They say: "We are ready for negotiations on a ceasefire. They want to stay where they are on the battlefield," said a senior international official who met with senior Russian officials this fall.

As the newspaper notes, there is no evidence that Ukraine's leaders, who have promised to return all of their territory, will accept such an agreement.

Some American officials say this may be an attempt by the Kremlin to mislead the world and does not reflect Putin's true desire to compromise. Former Russian officials add that Putin may well change his mind if the Russian army gains momentum, the NYT writes.

Although he obsesses over Russia's actions on the battlefield and what he sees as his historic mission to reclaim "ancient Russian lands," he desperately wants most Russians to continue living normal lives. Preparing Russia for a multi-year war, he is quietly trying to make it clear that he is ready to end it, the article says.

The NYT spokespeople say the Russian president sees a favorable moment for a deal due to a combination of factors: the stalemate in hostilities, Ukraine's failed counteroffensive, slowing support from the West, and the war in Israel, diverting attention from Ukraine.