Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined specific conditions for ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday morning, June 14, Putin stated that he would call for a ceasefire and commence immediate peace talks if Ukraine agrees to withdraw its troops from four regions currently occupied by Russian forces and abandon plans to join NATO.
“We will [call a ceasefire] immediately,” Putin declared, emphasizing that his proposal aims at a “final resolution” of the conflict. He indicated the Kremlin’s readiness to start negotiations without delay.
This announcement comes just before a two-day conference in Switzerland, which is focused on developing a “road map” to peace in Ukraine. Despite Putin’s proposition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently refused to consider any deal that involves ceding Ukrainian territory to Moscow.
Russian forces currently control significant parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, and in September 2022, Moscow unilaterally annexed these regions along with parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Additionally, Russian troops are advancing in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
In his speech, Putin also accused Western leaders of pushing Russia towards “the point of no return,” alluding to the threat of a nuclear World War Three. He criticized Western politicians for their calls to strategically defeat Russia, which possesses the largest nuclear arsenal, describing these actions as extremely reckless.
“We have come unacceptably close to the point of no return… Calls to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, which possesses the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, demonstrate the extreme recklessness of Western politicians,” Putin asserted. He warned that such behavior could lead to tragedy.
Putin’s remarks coincide with the G7 leaders’ meeting in Italy and the upcoming peace conference in Lucerne, Switzerland. He emphasized that he does not intend to “freeze” the conflict but seeks a comprehensive resolution to end hostilities.
Additional conditions for peace laid out by Putin include Ukraine’s commitment to a non-nuclear status, limitations on its military capabilities, and protections for the Russian-speaking population within Ukraine.
“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 concluded, clearly detailing his terms for ending the war.
As the international community gathers in Switzerland to discuss the path to peace, the response to Putin’s conditions will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of the conflict.
