Putin Gave Up a Major Win in Ukraine in Favor of Waging War: Report

A new report suggests that a proposed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine that stipulated that Ukraine not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was rejected by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the war's inception.

Reuters cited three individuals close to Russian leadership, reporting that an agreement was struck with Kyiv that would have avoided large-scale occupation. Dmitry Kozak, a Ukrainian-born envoy, allegedly made the recommendation to a Putin aide that the offer be agreed upon, thus avoiding a major conflict.

Two of the three Russian sources reportedly told...