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On the eve of a peace conference in Switzerland to which Russia
has not been invited, Putin set out a series of conditions
wholly at odds with the terms demanded by Ukraine.
"The conditions are very simple," Putin said, listing these as
the full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the entire
territory of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia
regions in eastern and southern Ukraine.
"As soon as they declare in Kyiv that they are ready for such a
decision and begin a real withdrawal of troops from these
regions, and also officially announce the abandonment of their
plans to join NATO - on our side, immediately, literally at the
same minute, an order will follow to cease fire and begin
negotiations," he said.
"I repeat, we will do this immediately. Naturally, we will
simultaneously guarantee the unhindered and safe withdrawal of
Ukrainian units and formations."
Russia controls nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory in the
third year of the war. Ukraine says peace can only be based on a
full withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of its
territorial integrity.
The weekend summit in Switzerland, which will be attended by
representatives of more than 90 nations and organisations, is
expected to shy away from territorial issues and focus instead
on matters such as food security and nuclear safety in Ukraine.
The Kremlin has said the gathering will prove "futile" without
Russia being represented.
(Reporting by Reuters, writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by
Andrew Osborn and Gareth Jones)
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