Russia Will Cease-fire Immediately, If Ukraine Withdraw Troops, Renounce NATO – Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday that he would “immediately” order a cease-fire in Ukraine and initiate negotiations if Kyiv agrees to withdraw its troops from four regions annexed by Moscow and renounce its plans to join NATO.

This announcement comes amidst heightened diplomatic activities, with leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations meeting in Italy and an upcoming summit in Switzerland where world leaders are set to discuss steps toward peace in Ukraine.

However, Kyiv has made it clear that it seeks NATO membership and demands the withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory, making Putin’s proposal appear highly unlikely to be accepted by Ukraine.

There has been no response from Ukrainian officials regarding Putin’s offer.

In a speech delivered at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Putin stated, “We will do it immediately.”

He framed his proposal as a step toward the conflict’s “final resolution” rather than merely “freezing it.”

The broader terms outlined by Putin for achieving peace included Ukraine adopting a non-nuclear status, imposing restrictions on its military capabilities, and safeguarding the interests of the Russian-speaking population within the country.

He also called for these conditions to be enshrined in “fundamental international agreements” and demanded lifting of all Western sanctions imposed on Russia.

“We’re urging to turn this tragic page of history and to begin restoring, step-by-step, the unity between Russia and Ukraine and in Europe in general,” Putin asserted.

The timing of Putin’s proposal is significant, coinciding with the G7 summit in Italy, where world leaders are discussing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and broader geopolitical stability.

Switzerland is also set to host numerous global leaders, though notably excluding Russia, to deliberate on initial measures towards peace.

Despite these diplomatic overtures, the stark conditions laid out by Putin are expected to be a significant hurdle in the path to any immediate resolution.

The insistence on Ukraine renouncing its NATO ambitions and the demand for troop withdrawals from regions annexed by Russia are considered non-negotiable points for Kyiv, which continues to seek full sovereignty and territorial integrity.

AP

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