Russian President Vladimir Putin has privately expressed his willingness to engage in peace talks with Ukraine multiple times since the early weeks of the invasion, according to The New York Times. However, Western officials remain skeptical about his intentions.

The report states that Putin first considered a cease-fire just weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The Russian president quickly realized that the military campaign was not going as planned, as Ukrainian resistance proved to be more resilient than anticipated. Talks of a cease-fire were initiated but fell through due to Russia's brutal acts against civilians and soldiers in Ukraine.

In the fall of 2022, Putin explored the possibility of peace talks again after Russian forces retreated from Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region in September. US officials revealed that Putin's interest was hindered by the condition that Russia could retain the approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory it has occupied.

Recently, as the war approaches its two-year mark, Putin has shown renewed interest in a cease-fire. However, significant progress on the front lines has yet to be observed.

The New York Times reports that two former senior Russian officials close to the Kremlin, along with US and international officials, have received messages indicating Putin's interest in peace talks since at least September. The conditions outlined last year in the fall remain the same, with Putin expressing the desire to maintain control of the occupied territory.

While US officials claim that the armistice would preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and recognize Kyiv as its capital, it is uncertain if Ukraine would accept a cease-fire under such conditions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made multiple declarations of reclaiming all territory seized by Russia, and top US officials doubt that any influential Ukrainian politician would agree to Putin's terms.

Skepticism remains among US and Western officials due to Russia's history of not honoring agreements. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stated that Russia has violated agreements immediately when it deemed it convenient.

Interestingly, Putin's private interest in peace talks contrasts with his public messaging. In his first news conference allowing attendance from Western media since the invasion, held on December 14, Putin stated that there would be no cease-fire until Russia's goals are achieved. He emphasized that victory would be obtained.

As tensions continue between Russia and Ukraine, the future of peace talks and a possible cease-fire remains uncertain. The skepticism among Western officials amplifies the challenges in reaching a resolution to the conflict.