For European diplomats, officials and analysts, Vladimir Putin has done little to soften his long-standing war aims in Ukraine.

They say the Russian president wants nothing less than a Kremlin-friendly government in Kyiv, Ukraine blocked from joining NATO and the size of its armed forces curtailed.

When Putin first discussed the parameters of a peace deal with US President Donald Trump in February 2025, demanding an election as the price for a ceasefire appeared a realistic way of toppling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir PutinCredit: Marija Ercegovac

But as the months have gone by, Trump has slowly appeared to tilt his favour from Moscow to Kyiv. The apparent change in direction in the White House has made it harder for Moscow to make these sorts of ultimatums. Maintaining these demands cements Putin as the main barrier to Trump’s peace efforts.

Now, with the Russian and US leaders set for their first face-to-face meeting since 2019 on Friday, Putin needs another way to sell his vision for removing Kyiv’s Western-facing government.

Could the key to sowing further chaos through a US-backed peace settlement lie in Ukraine’s own constitution?

Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday.Credit: AP

Kyiv’s laws state that its president or parliament cannot legally cede territory without a nationwide referendum. Practically, that would not currently be possible, considering that Russia occupies about 20 per cent of Ukraine. And any attempt to act unilaterally and overrule the constitution would foment unrest – not least among the soldiers who have fought so hard to defend their homeland for more than three years. Zelensky’s position would probably be untenable.

For this reason, when Washington and........

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