Putin Proposes Ceasefire Deal in Exchange for Ukraine’s Surrender of Eastern Territories
The Russian leader emphasized the importance of a ceasefire to establish ‘unity between Russia and Ukraine and in Europe in general.’
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he would be open to a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine if the country handed over its occupied territories to Russia.
On June 14th, Mr. Putin pledged to initiate a ceasefire and engage in peace talks immediately if Kyiv agreed to withdraw all troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022, and if Ukraine renounced any plans to join NATO.
“We urge to close this tragic chapter in our history and gradually restore unity between Russia and Ukraine, as well as in Europe as a whole,” Putin remarked.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the proposal, viewing it as a Russian strategy to coerce Ukraine into giving up territory where it still maintains troops.
Mr. Zelenskyy pointed out that Putin’s demands included Ukraine’s complete withdrawal from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces have been unsuccessful in taking control of key population centers.
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It is worth noting that Ukraine is not under consideration for NATO membership currently, despite expressing interest. The likelihood of Ukraine’s NATO accession is slim, as it would necessitate unanimous approval from all NATO member states, including Hungary and Turkey, who are unlikely to support such a controversial move.
Putin’s comments come just before a peace summit in Switzerland where 90 delegations from various nations and international organizations will be present. Notably, Russia and its ally China will be absent from the event.
Mr. Putin expressed concern that the Switzerland peace conference could stray from the intended discussion.
These remarks follow the signing of a security pact between Mr. Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden, outlining $50 billion in loans to Ukraine from the United States and its partners to bolster defense against Russia.
Russia’s reservations about the conference stem partly from its reluctance to show any acceptance of the Ukrainian peace proposal.
Putin’s stipulations for a ceasefire conflict with the key objectives of Mr. Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan, which includes the withdrawal of Russian troops from all occupied areas of Ukraine, including Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014.
While Mr. Putin has aimed at Ukrainian neutrality and the annexation of predominantly Russian-speaking regions, recent comments indicate a shift in his objectives, relinquishing the demand for Ukraine’s forced demilitarization.
Despite mutual calls from Ukrainian and Russian sides for a ceasefire, both parties are unlikely to take the requests seriously and may view them as early attempts to delineate acceptable terms for future negotiations.
During a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asserted that Putin initiated the conflict without provocation and could conclude it promptly if he chose to do so.
Mr. Austin stated, “[Putin] has unjustly occupied Ukrainian territory and has no authority to dictate terms for peace to Ukraine.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
