Ukraine War: Putin Will Only Accept Ceasefire if Ukraine Is “Neutralized,” Says Former French Ambassador Claude Blanchemaison

Paris, March 19, 2025, 8:00 AM PDT – In an interview on RTL’s Matin program Wednesday, Claude Blanchemaison, former French Ambassador to Russia (2000–2003), analyzed the recent two-hour phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on March 18, 2025. Blanchemaison asserted that Putin will only agree to a full ceasefire in Ukraine if he secures “assurance that Ukraine is neutralized,” as reported by RTL and shared on X by @RTLFrance.

Putin’s Conditions for a Ceasefire

During the call, Trump and Putin discussed a potential ceasefire, but only a limited 30-day truce on Ukrainian energy infrastructure was agreed upon, with Ukraine signaling support for this scaled-back deal, per Reuters. Putin, however, demands a complete halt to Western military and intelligence aid to Ukraine as a precondition, according to a Kremlin statement cited by The Washington Post. Blanchemaison, on RTL, emphasized, “Putin will go all the way, won’t back down. Consequently, he wants a complete neutralization of independent Ukraine—what I’d call free Ukraine, meaning the part not occupied by Russian troops.”

Blanchemaison described this demand as “totally unacceptable” to Europeans, reflecting widespread opposition in the EU, as noted in a March 2025 Le Monde analysis. The diplomat praised the unified response from Europeans, Canadians, Turks, Japanese, and South Koreans, suggesting, “This could impress them if words turn into actions,” per France24. Posts on X, like @UkraineSolidarity’s, echoed his call for concrete action, while @RussiaToday dismissed it as “Western propaganda.”

Context of the Trump-Putin Call

The March 18 phone call, the first since Trump’s 2025 inauguration, aimed to address the Ukraine war, now in its third year, per CNN. Trump proposed a 30-day ceasefire as a step toward lasting peace, but Putin rejected a full truce, citing concerns that it would allow Ukraine to rearm, as reported by BBC News. The White House, via Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X, confirmed immediate talks on a Black Sea maritime ceasefire and a broader peace deal, but progress remains stalled, per The New York Times.

Web results, including www.reuters.com (March 19, 2025), detail Putin’s order to halt strikes on Ukrainian energy sites temporarily, but his insistence on neutralizing Ukraine—preventing its NATO or EU integration—complicates negotiations. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on X, supported the partial truce but vowed to resist Russian demands, per Kyiv Post.

Blanchemaison’s Analysis and Regional Dynamics

Blanchemaison, drawing on his diplomatic experience, warned that Putin’s strategy aims for long-term control over Ukraine, rejecting any outcome that preserves its sovereignty, as outlined in Le Figaro’s March 2025 coverage. His comments align with EU and NATO concerns, with the European Council on X reaffirming “unwavering support” for Ukraine, per EU Council Press. Posts on X, like @FranceDiplo’s, praised Blanchemaison’s insights, while @KremlinRussia_E criticized his stance as biased.

The former ambassador’s call for action reflects growing frustration among Western allies, with France, Germany, and the U.S. increasing military aid to Kyiv, per a March 2025 Defense News report. Turkey, Japan, and South Korea’s involvement, as noted by Blanchemaison, signals a broader coalition, but Putin’s refusal to yield, amid Russian advances in eastern Ukraine, per The Economist, complicates peace prospects.

Implications for the Conflict

As of 8:00 AM PDT, the partial truce offers temporary relief, but Putin’s conditions for a full ceasefire—neutralizing Ukraine’s independence—threaten to prolong the war, risking further escalation. Blanchemaison’s warning underscores the urgency for Western unity, but analysts, like those at Carnegie Endowment (March 2025), caution that Putin’s demands could derail diplomacy, pushing Ukraine and its allies toward a prolonged standoff.