June 14th 2024.
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a bold promise to call for a cease-fire in Ukraine and initiate peace talks, but on one condition. He stated that if Kyiv took the first step by withdrawing their troops from the four regions that were annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renouncing their plans to join NATO, then he would immediately take action. However, this proposal seems unlikely to be accepted by Kyiv, as they have continuously expressed their desire to join the military alliance and have demanded that Russia remove their troops from all of their territory. So far, there has been no response from Ukraine regarding Putin's proposition.
During a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Putin confidently declared, “We will do it immediately.” His speech coincided with the meeting of the Group of Seven industrialised nations in Italy and with Switzerland hosting numerous world leaders this weekend, although not including Moscow. The goal of these meetings is to find a path towards peace in Ukraine.
Putin emphasized that his proposal is not about temporarily halting the conflict, but rather about finding a permanent resolution. He reiterated that the Kremlin is ready to start negotiations without any delay. Furthermore, he listed broader demands for peace, including Ukraine's non-nuclear status, limitations on their military force, and protection for the Russian-speaking population in the country. According to Putin, all of these issues should be addressed in fundamental international agreements, and he also called for the lifting of all Western sanctions against Russia.
“We're urging to turn this tragic page of history and to begin restoring the unity between Russia and Ukraine and in Europe in general,” Putin stated, highlighting the importance of mending the relationship between the two countries. While his remarks did outline specific conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, they did not include any new demands. The Kremlin has previously stated that Kyiv must acknowledge Russia's territorial gains and abandon their plans to join NATO.
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