By Gloria Nosa
Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined specific conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, which Ukrainian officials and Western leaders have largely rejected as unacceptable.
Putin’s Conditions for Ceasefire
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Full Withdrawal from Four Regions: Putin demands that Ukraine withdraw its forces from the entire territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, even those not currently under full Russian control. He insists that Ukraine officially recognize these areas as part of Russia .
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Abandon NATO Membership: Ukraine must formally renounce its aspirations to join NATO, a stance that has been central to its foreign policy since the invasion began.
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Demilitarization and Neutral Status: Putin requires Ukraine to adopt a neutral, non-aligned status and to demilitarize, effectively leaving it without security guarantees .
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Sanctions Relief: He insists that Western sanctions against Russia be lifted as a precondition for any ceasefire .
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Recognition of Russian Control: Putin demands that Ukraine and the international community recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea and the annexed regions .
Ukrainian and Western Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed these terms as “a complete sham” and “offensive to common sense,” viewing them as an attempt to legitimize Russian territorial gains . Similarly, Western leaders, including NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, have rejected Putin’s conditions, interpreting them as a strategy to impose Russian control over Ukraine .
Despite these rejections, Putin continues to frame his demands as the basis for a final resolution to the conflict, insisting that any peace agreement must reflect the “realities on the ground” .
In summary, while Putin has outlined specific conditions for a ceasefire, these demands involve significant territorial concessions and a renouncement of Ukraine’s sovereignty, which are unacceptable to Kyiv and its allies.
