Putin Ultimatum To US: Pull NATO Back To Germany Or Be Defeated In Ukraine; Opposes EU Talks Role

 

Putin Ultimatum To US: Pull NATO Back To Germany Or Be Defeated In Ukraine; Opposes EU Talks Role

According to reports from The New York Times, Kyiv Post, and statements from Kremlin officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented the United States with a strict set of security demands that mirror the Kremlin's December 2021 ultimatum, calling for a rollback of NATO forces and opposing direct European Union involvement in peace talks.

Key Kremlin Demands

During diplomatic engagements with U.S. envoys—including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—Russian officials outlined conditions for ending the war in Ukraine and restructuring European security:

• NATO Force Rollback. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Russia is demanding a return of NATO's military infrastructure and troop deployments to their pre-1997 positions (when the NATO-Russia Founding Act was signed). This would require pulling alliance forces out of Eastern Europe back to the German border.
• Restrictions on Ukraine and Neighboring States. According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, Moscow wants a complete ban on Western weapon supplies to Ukraine and restrictions on Western military cooperation with countries in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. While the Kremlin indicated Ukraine could join the European Union, it stipulated that Kyiv must be barred from participating in any EU defense initiatives.
• Veto on European Peacekeepers. Putin told the U.S. delegation that the deployment of any foreign or European-led reassurance troops on Ukrainian territory—even after a peace agreement—is unacceptable and would reignite the conflict.
• Nuclear Restrictions. Russia has expanded its 2021 nuclear proposals, seeking to place limits not only on U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe, but also on the arsenals of the United Kingdom and France.

Opposition to an EU Role in Negotiations

Moscow has pushed back against European Union participation in the diplomatic process, questioning who holds the authority to speak for the bloc.

• Questioning EU Representation. Putin publicly asked for the name of a single European representative capable of negotiating on behalf of the continent, criticizing the bloc's overlapping leadership structure.
• Internal EU Divisions. According to Politico, EU member states have experienced internal debate over whether negotiations with Moscow should be led by European Council President António Costa, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, or major powers like France and Germany.

European and Western Responses

European officials have rejected Moscow's framing and insisted on a unified seat at the negotiating table:

• Insistence on Inclusion. Speaking around the European Political Community summit in Dublin, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Europe must be included in peace talks to ensure European security interests and continued support for Kyiv are represented.
• Rejection of Russian Tactics. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas acknowledged Moscow's opposition to her involvement, arguing that Russia uses maximum demands and ultimatums to divide Western allies and extract concessions. European leaders subsequently agreed on a joint negotiating team combining EU institutions and the "E5" group from the Coalition of the Willing.
• Negotiating Posture. Sources cited by The New York Times noted that while the Kremlin's document sets sweeping conditions, U.S. and Western officials view the list as Putin's maximalist opening stance rather than a final take-it-or-leave-it offer.