Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered formal written guarantees that Russia will not attack Europe, calling Western warnings “fabrications.” Speaking at the CSTO summit in Bishkek, he repeated maximalist demands for Ukraine’s troop withdrawal from contested regions. Kyiv rejected the proposal, as upcoming U.S.–Russia talks aim to revive a stalled peace framework.
Putin Written Guarantees Offered to Europe as Ukraine War Stalemate Deepens at CSTO Summit
TheInterviewTimes.com | November 29, 2025: Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Moscow is prepared to offer formal written guarantees that it will not attack European nations—an attempt to counter Western warnings of possible Russian expansionism amid the prolonged Ukraine war. His comments were delivered during a press briefing at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on November 27.
Putin dismissed Western concerns as “fabrications” and “utter nonsense,” asserting that Russia has “never had any intention” of invading other European states. “If they require a formal statement from us, we will certainly document it,” he added, positioning the assurances as a gesture of diplomatic openness as U.S.-supported peace talks attempt to regain momentum.
Territorial Demands on Ukraine Remain Unchanged
Despite offering what he calls stabilising assurances to Europe, Putin reiterated hard-line conditions for ending the war in Ukraine—conditions Kyiv considers non-negotiable.
He insisted that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that Russia claims, including territories still under Kyiv’s control. “If they do not pull back, we will achieve this by military means,” he warned.
Ukraine immediately rejected these demands. Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said:
“As long as Zelenskyy is president, no one should count on us giving up territory.”
He emphasised that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits ceding land, a stance reinforced by overwhelming public resistance to territorial concessions. Ukrainian officials say Russia’s “maximalist goals” contradict the very idea of a viable ceasefire.
Must Read: Putin India Visit 2025: Annual Summit to Focus on Defence, Trade Imbalance and Tariff Pressures
Doubts in Europe Rooted in Russia’s Record of Broken Promises
European leaders and foreign policy experts responded with deep skepticism to Putin’s offer of written guarantees. Critics point to Russia’s history of violating international commitments, which includes:
- Denying plans to annex Crimea shortly before its 2014 takeover
- Rejecting accusations of planning a full invasion prior to the February 2022 attack
- Breaching the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in which Russia pledged to respect Ukraine’s borders in exchange for nuclear disarmament
Analysts say such precedents have rendered Russian assurances “effectively worthless” without independent verification or powerful enforcement mechanisms. Many European officials argue that any new commitments must be tied to legally binding security structures, not diplomatic statements.
U.S.–Russia Talks Next Week to Examine Revised Peace Framework
The next phase in diplomatic efforts will occur next week, when U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff leads a delegation to Moscow to discuss Washington’s evolving peace framework. The proposal—originally a 28-point plan—is being updated after several rounds of talks with Ukrainian and European officials.
Putin defended Witkoff following leaks alleging he advised Russia on how to craft terms that might appeal to former President Donald Trump. Calling him “an intelligent man,” Putin signaled cautious optimism that the U.S. plan could serve as a “basis for future agreements.”
The framework reportedly includes ideas related to:
- NATO non-expansion guarantees
- Arms-limit arrangements along the Russia–NATO frontier
- De facto recognition of occupied territories including Crimea
However, U.S. officials stress that these elements are not final and must align with commitments made to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv will hold parallel talks with U.S. negotiators this week to finalize security guarantees, insisting that no peace agreement can undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Must Read: India GDP Growth 2025 Surges to 8.2% in Q2 as Manufacturing and Services Power Momentum
Key Takeaways
- Putin offered written guarantees that Russia will not attack Europe, but Western leaders remain skeptical.
- Russia continues to demand Ukraine’s troop withdrawal from Donetsk and Luhansk, which Kyiv refuses.
- Europe’s distrust stems from Russia’s history of broken security commitments.
- U.S.–Russia talks next week will examine a revised peace framework aimed at breaking the stalemate.
- Ukraine will negotiate separately with Washington to secure long-term defense guarantees.