KYIV, Ukraine — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday cautiously welcomed a U.S. proposal to end Moscow's nearly four-year war in Ukraine, saying it "could form the basis of a final peace settlement."

Putin said Moscow had received the plan, which he called "a new version" and "a modernized plan," which he said "could form the basis for a final peace settlement."

"But this text has not been discussed with us in any substantive way, and I can guess why," Putin said in Moscow. "The U.S. administration has so far been unable to secure the consent of the Ukrainian side. Ukraine is against it. Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under illusions and the dream of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield."

Earlier Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Ze

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