Putin issues formal demands to end Ukraine war after meeting with Trump: report

The report also claimed that Putin would agree to freeze the front lines where it currently stands in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia and relinquish some territory it has captured in the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

But, since 2023, the frontlines have remained largely stagnant, with Russia reportedly occupying less than 20% of Ukraine - an estimated 7% of which was previously taken in 2014, when Russia fully occupied Crimea and parts of the Donbas. 

Russian-controlled territory in Sumy and Kharkiv is estimated to equate to roughly 150 square miles combined, and a fraction of this in Dnipropetrovsk.

"Whatever helps to stall," the official, who spoke to Fox News Digital on the condition of anonymity, said. 

Instead, his comments escalated concern that Putin's ultimate war aim is the control of Kyiv, rather than physical occupation of all of Ukraine, which Russian forces have been unable to achieve. 

Lavrov said the Kremlin's goal is to "protect" Ukrainians from their own government and argued "there can be no talk of any long-term agreements" with Kyiv "without respect" for Russia's security and the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War reported this week.  

"These are the reasons that must be urgently eliminated in the context of a settlement," Lavrov added.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's questions.