A painful peace: Russia demands Western pledge stopping NATO's Eastern expansion, sources say

In the latest of Russian President Vladimir Putin's conditions to end its conflict with Ukraine comes a demand that Western leaders pledge—in writing—to stop the Eastward expansion of NATO membership,a Reuters report said, citing three sources in the know. 

The report added that Putin's "written" pledge tactic meant formally ruling out NATO membership to Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and other such former Soviet republics.

"Putin is ready to make peace but not at any price," one of the sources said.

This comes amid US President Donald Trump's growing frustration at the Russia-Ukraine conflict continuing, despite America's efforts to get the two nations to engage in conducive dialogue.

Trump on Tuesday had even blamed Putin of "playing with fire" following Moscow's drone attack on Kyiv that day, which killed 13 people. 

Dmitry Medvedev, Putin's predecessor from 2008-12, issued a strong reply to Trump, threatening World War III. He is currently the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council.

Moscow also wants Kyiv to remain neutral, some Western sanctions lifted, a resolution of frozen Russian assets—some of which will be used by the EU to fund Ukraine's latest arms shipments—and protection for Russian speakers in Ukraine, the sources added. 

One of the sources also added that in case Putin's terms for a peace deal were not met, the Kremlin would seek to show the Ukrainians—and the West in general—that "peace tomorrow will be even more painful”.

Russia currently controls almost one-fifth of Ukraine. Although the war has intensified in recent months, both nations have also been paying a higher toll in terms of casualties, economy and military spending.

"Putin has toughened his position," another of the sources said, in response to a question about Russia willing to cede the Ukrainian territory that it had annexed.