Secret channel relayed U.S. assurances it did not seek regime change or Russia’s destruction, then evolved into a Ukraine peace plan that collapsed in early 2023

A Financial Times investigation details a secret, unofficial effort to reach Vladimir Putin in 2022, as fears of Russian nuclear escalation grew. The effort later developed into a proposed Ukraine peace deal, but collapsed in early 2023 amid questions over whether it had U.S. authorization.

American lawyer Richard Conn and banker Bob Foresman worked through Matthias Warnig, a former East German Stasi officer and longtime Putin associate. They relayed assurances that Washington was not seeking regime change or Russia’s destruction.

The channel evolved into a proposed deal involving territorial concessions and security guarantees. Participants say Putin entertained the plan, but Kyiv rejected territorial compromises.

Former American officials dispute how seriously Moscow was negotiating.