‘Withdraw troops from occupied territories’ — Putin gives Ukraine conditions for ceasefire

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has listed demands to be met before a ceasefire begins in Ukraine.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has continued to bombard the country despite pleas from the international community.

Speaking at a meeting of the country’s ambassadors in Moscow on Friday, Putin said Ukraine must withdraw troops from territories Russia claims to have annexed before a ceasefire could begin.

He said Ukraine would have to give up on joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

The Russian leader added that Western countries must lift their sanctions on his country, which he said have damaged its economy.

“As soon as they declare in Kyiv that they are ready for such a decision and begin the real withdrawal of troops from these regions – and also officially notify about the abandonment of plans to join NATO – our side will immediately, at the same minute, make the order to cease fire and begin negotiations,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said his country “does not trust” Putin’s “ultimatum,” which he likened to Adolf Hitler.

Zelensky has previously reiterated that Ukraine would not negotiate with Moscow until Russian forces leave all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general, also dismissed Putin’s proposal, saying it was “not made in good faith”.

Putin’s demands come on the eve of a peace conference in Switzerland, to which Russia has not been invited.

Putin said the conference was a ploy to distract people.

Earlier in Italy, leaders of the G7 nations agreed on a $50 billion loan package for Ukraine through profits on frozen Russian assets.

Maria Zakharova, the Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, warned that there would be “extremely painful” retaliatory measures.