Russian President Vladimir Putin has made halting NATO’s eastward expansion a central condition for ending the war in Ukraine, demanding written assurances from the West alongside sanctions relief and recognition of Russian territorial claims, Reuters reported Wednesday.

According to three Russian sources close to the Kremlin, Moscow’s peace terms include a written commitment by NATO to permanently bar Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova from joining the alliance. Russia is also seeking the lifting of “a chunk” of Western sanctions, protection for Russian speakers in Ukraine, and a solution to the $300 billion in frozen Russian sovereign assets.

“Putin is ready to make peace, but not at any price,” said one source, adding that the Kremlin prefers to secure concessions through diplomatic means—but is willing to escalate militarily if necessary.

Trump Presses Putin, Warns of More Sanctions

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed growing frustration with Putin, warning this week that the Russian leader is “playing with fire.” Trump recently threatened more sanctions unless Russia engages more seriously in peace talks and scales down its intensified military campaign.

Despite holding a two-hour call with Putin last week, Trump has faced difficulty in breaking the deadlock. A U.S.-backed peace memorandum is being drafted, but both Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of stalling.

Kyiv Rejects NATO Veto, Presses for Guarantees

Ukraine continues to insist on its right to NATO membership and refuses to accept any agreement that grants Moscow veto power over its security future. President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government did not comment on the report but has consistently demanded strong Western guarantees against future Russian aggression.

NATO, for its part, has reiterated its “open-door” policy and declined to respond to Reuters’ inquiries about the reported Russian conditions.

A Shifting Battlefield and Stiffening Positions

As Russia continues to gain ground in eastern Ukraine—now controlling significant portions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions—analysts believe Putin has little incentive to compromise. Sources say the Kremlin is determined to retain all claimed territories and use military leverage to extract diplomatic concessions.

Observers warn that the hardening of positions may signal either a last push toward a negotiated deal or the unraveling of fragile peace efforts entirely.