MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that Russia would stop fireplace and enter peace talks if Ukraine dropped its NATO ambitions and withdrew its forces from 4 Ukrainian areas claimed by Moscow.
On the eve of a peace convention in Switzerland to which Russia has not been invited, Putin set out a collection of circumstances wholly at odds with the phrases demanded by Ukraine.
“The circumstances are quite simple,” Putin stated, itemizing these as the total withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the whole territory of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia areas in jap and southern Ukraine.
“As quickly as they declare in Kyiv that they’re prepared for such a choice and start an actual withdrawal of troops from these areas, and likewise formally announce the abandonment of their plans to hitch NATO – on our aspect, instantly, actually on the identical minute, an order will observe to stop fireplace and start negotiations,” he stated.
“I repeat, we are going to do that instantly. Naturally, we are going to concurrently assure the unhindered and protected withdrawal of Ukrainian items and formations.”
Russia controls almost a fifth of Ukrainian territory within the third 12 months of the warfare. Ukraine says peace can solely be primarily based on a full withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of its territorial integrity.
The weekend summit in Switzerland, which will probably be attended by representatives of greater than 90 nations and organisations, is anticipated to draw back from territorial points and focus as an alternative on issues comparable to meals safety and nuclear security in Ukraine.
The Kremlin has stated the gathering will show “futile” with out Russia being represented.
(Reporting by Reuters, writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by Andrew Osborn and Gareth Jones)
