Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged on Friday to order an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine and commence negotiations if Kyiv initiated the withdrawal of troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and abandoned plans to join NATO.
This proposal is unlikely to be accepted by Kyiv, which aims to join the military alliance and has insisted on Russia’s complete withdrawal from its territory.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, dismissed Putin’s offer as nothing new, describing it as a standard aggressor’s stance that has been repeated many times before.
Putin’s comments coincided with the meeting of the Group of Seven in Italy and the upcoming summit in Switzerland, which aims to pave the way for peace in Ukraine. The U.S. and Ukraine recently signed a 10-year security agreement, a move criticized by Russian officials.
In a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Putin criticized the Switzerland conference as a diversion tactic and expressed readiness to begin negotiations without delay.
Putin outlined broader peace demands, including Ukraine’s recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, restrictions on military capabilities, and protection of Russian-speaking populations. He also called for the lifting of Western sanctions against Russia.
Despite setting conditions for ending the conflict, Putin did not introduce any new demands and emphasized the need for Kyiv to recognize Moscow’s territorial gains.
Putin claimed that Russia’s presence near Kyiv was aimed at pressuring the Ukrainian regime to negotiate for peace. He denied intentions to storm the capital and described the troop deployment as a goodwill gesture.
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