Putin offers immediate ceasefire in Ukraine if Kyiv renounces NATO plans, withdraws troops

Russia-Ukraine war: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said he was ready to “immediately” order a ceasefire in Ukraine and begin negotiations, provided Kyiv renounced its plan to join NATO and started withdrawing troops from the four occupied Ukrainian regions. This statement was reported by ‘The Associated Press’.

“We will do it immediately,” Russian President Putin said in a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow. He said his proposal aimed at a “final resolution” of the conflict rather than merely “freezing it,” and stressed the Kremlin’s readiness to commence negotiations without delay.

Putin’s remarks coincided with a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) leaders in Italy, and as Switzerland prepared to host scores of world leaders this weekend, excluding Russia, to discuss initial steps toward achieving peace in Ukraine.

Beyond renouncing NATO membership and troop withdrawal, Putin’s other demands include Ukraine adopting a non-nuclear status, imposing restrictions on its military forces, and protecting the interests of the Russian-speaking population within the country.

This move comes amidst ongoing international efforts to address the Ukraine-Russian conflict, which has seen severe repercussions for both nations and significant geopolitical ramifications.