By Lucy Adautin
Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged on Friday to “immediately” order a cease-fire in Ukraine and initiate negotiations if Kyiv began withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow and abandon its plans to join NATO.
Such a proposal seems unfeasible for Kyiv, which is determined to join the military alliance and insists on Russia withdrawing its troops from all Ukrainian territories. Ukraine has not yet commented on Putin’s offer.
“We will do it immediately,” Putin declared during a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow.
His statements coincided with the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations meeting in Italy and as Switzerland prepared to host numerous world leaders excluding those from Moscow this weekend to discuss initial steps toward achieving peace in Ukraine.
Putin said his proposal is aimed at a “final resolution” of the conflict in Ukraine rather than “freezing it,” and stressed that the Kremlin is “ready to start negotiations without delay.”
Broader demands for peace that the Russian leader listed included Ukraine’s non-nuclear status, restrictions on its military force and protecting the interests of the Russian-speaking population in the country. All of these should become part of “fundamental international agreements,” and all Western sanctions against Russia should be lifted, Putin said.
“We’re urging to turn this tragic page of history and to begin restoring, step-by-step, restore the unity between Russia and Ukraine and in Europe in general,” he said.
