Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war in Ukraine with a negotiated cease-fire that recognizes the current battlefield lines, four Russian sources said, saying he is prepared to fight on if Kyiv and the West do not respond.
Three of the sources, familiar with discussions in Putin's entourage, said the veteran Russian leader had expressed frustration to a small group of advisers about what he views as Western-backed attempts to stymie negotiations and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy's decision to rule out talks.
"Putin can fight for as long as it takes, but Putin is also ready for a cease-fire — to freeze the war," said another of the four, a senior Russian source who has worked with Putin and has knowledge of top level conversations in the Kremlin.
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