Western Officials Say Putin Knows His Ukraine Terms Won’t Be Met

Western security officials said Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention to compromise on demands on land, peacekeepers and Ukraine’s neutrality in any peace talks, complicating President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure a credible settlement.

Putin has made deliberately “maximalist” demands ahead of negotiations to end the war, which he knows will likely be unacceptable to Ukrainians and other Europeans, according to the security officials. The Russian leader is prepared to continue fighting if he doesn’t get his goals, said the officials, who asked not to be named discussing matters that haven’t been made public.