Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Ukraine must withdraw its troops from four regions and abandon plans to join NATO in order to start peace talks. This announcement comes just before a major international conference on the Ukraine conflict in Switzerland, which excludes Russia. Putin emphasized that Russia is ready to cease hostilities if Ukraine agrees to these conditions.
The areas in question—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—have been partially occupied by Russian forces and claimed by Moscow since 2022. Putin insists Ukraine should give up these territories, although Russian forces do not fully control them. He also demands legal guarantees that Ukraine will remain neutral and not join military alliances like NATO.
Ukraine strongly rejected these terms, calling them a demand for surrender. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants the full restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and views Putin’s conditions as unrealistic. Western leaders have echoed the view that the Russian proposal is not a serious step toward peace but rather an attempt to shift responsibility and pressure Ukraine into submission.
The upcoming summit in Switzerland aims to find pathways to peace, but Russia is not participating. Despite this, many countries are expected to support Ukraine’s ten-point peace proposal, which includes the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine’s borders as of 1991.
Putin’s announcement is seen by some analysts as a way to influence the summit and solidify Russia’s territorial gains. Western officials maintain that true peace can only come through fair negotiations that ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
