Vladimir Putin has been offered surrender terms by the West, a respected Russian policy expert revealed today, as Moscow’s troops were forced to withdraw from the city of Kherson in yet another humiliating defeat.
Professor Valery Solovey, formerly at Moscow’s prestigious Institute of International Relations and who claims to have connections in the Kremlin, said the surrender would see Russia give up all territory in Ukraine with the exception of Crimea, which would become a demilitarised zone and its status would not be discussed again until 2029.
In return, Putin and his cronies would avoid criminal charges over the war and be allowed to remain in power, Professor Solovey claimed.
He said the proposal had been discussed between Kyiv and its Western allies before being presented to Putin’s inner circle – who had reacted positively to the idea.
Russia has been calling for a return to the negotiating table in recent days while there have been suggestions that Washington is quietly leaning on Kyiv to do the same.
General Mark Milley, head of the US general staff, said this week that a winter lull in fighting presents an ‘opportunity’ for talks.
President Zelensky has previously vowed never to negotiate with Russia so long as Putin remains in power.
The news emerged as Ukraine today liberated Kherson after eight months of Russian occupation, with troops greeted as heroes after the last of Putin’s forces fled. Weeping locals sang, danced, hugged, kissed and chanted victory slogans as Kyiv’s soldiers arrived to take back the city – with parties going on into the night.
Russia claimed it had completed the retreat across the Dnipro River without losing a single soldier, but Ukrainians painted a picture of a chaotic retreat, with soldiers ditching their uniforms or drowning while trying to escape.
