More than three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asserted that parts of his peace proposal have gained backing from individuals inside Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. Speaking in an interview with Reuters on February 4, 2025, Zelenskyy declined to name which specific figures he said support elements of the plan. The claim has not been independently verified by any source, and it stands in sharp contrast to the Kremlin’s official position, which has publicly and unequivocally rejected the Ukrainian proposal.
Peace Plan Details and Divided Signals
The peace plan in question was first put forward by Zelenskyy in late 2022, nearly a year after the invasion began on February 24, 2022. It consists of 10 points that call for a full withdrawal of Russian troops, restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and security guarantees for Kyiv. Russia’s public rejection has been absolute: the Kremlin insists that any settlement must recognize its annexation of Ukrainian territory, a position Ukraine refuses to accept.
Despite this official posture, Zelenskyy’s suggestion that voices inside Putin’s orbit may be open to negotiation hints at possible diplomatic openings behind the scenes. If accurate, the claim would signal a rare fracture in a Russian leadership long known for its public unity.
Western analysts have speculated about such internal divisions for years, but independent confirmation has remained elusive.
The Architect of Russia’s Campaigns
The assertion about internal Russian support emerges against the backdrop of Putin’s long and dominant tenure. A former KGB officer, Putin rose from relative obscurity in the 1990s to become prime minister in 1999 and acting president later that year, winning his first full term in 2000.
After serving two consecutive terms, he stepped aside due to term limits and served as prime minister under Dmitry Medvedev, before returning to the presidency in 2012. Constitutional changes approved in 2021 reset his term limits, allowing him to potentially remain in power until 2036. Under Putin, Russia has waged multiple military campaigns.
Early in his presidency, forces fought a brutal war in Chechnya that reasserted Moscow’s control over the breakaway republic. In 2008, Russia fought a brief war with Georgia.
In 2014, Putin ordered the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, a conflict that simmered for years before the full-scale invasion of February 2022. That war has reshaped European security and drawn sweeping international sanctions against Russia.
Conflict Grinds On as Diplomatic Path Remains Hazy
Zelenskyy’s comments come as both sides continue military operations. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and significant displacement since February 2022.
A Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023 managed to recapture some territory, but the front lines have largely held. The 10-point peace formula remains the cornerstone of Kyiv’s negotiating position, and any sign of traction — even from unofficial quarters in Moscow — could shift the dynamics. Yet the claim of support within Putin’s circle has not been corroborated by any independent source.
The war continues, and the path to a negotiated settlement remains uncertain. For observers, the question matters because it hints at whether diplomatic openings might exist behind the scenes, even as the war grinds on with heavy casualties and no end in sight.
The Kremlin’s public stance shows no sign of softening, and Ukraine insists on the restoration of its full territorial integrity. The assertion by Zelenskyy injects a new element into an already complex diplomatic calculus, but without independent verification, its impact on the ground remains unclear.
