Russia's Putin demands more Ukrainian land to end war

MOSCOW,— Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that Russia would only end the war in Ukraine if Kyiv abandons its NATO ambitions and cedes four provinces claimed by Moscow.

Ukraine swiftly rejected these demands, labeling them as tantamount to surrender.

Putin’s remarks come ahead of a conference in Switzerland, which Russia was not invited to. His maximalist conditions, contrary to Ukraine’s terms, suggest Moscow’s growing confidence in the war.

Putin reiterated his longstanding demand for Ukraine’s demilitarization and insisted that the lifting of Western sanctions be part of any peace deal. He also repeated his controversial call for Ukraine’s “denazification,” a term Kyiv considers a slur against its leadership.

Ukraine dismissed these conditions as “absurd.” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters, “He is asking Ukraine to admit defeat, give up its territories, and surrender its geopolitical sovereignty.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky told Italy’s SkyTG24 news channel that Putin’s comments were a timed ultimatum, meant to coincide with the upcoming Swiss summit.

“He understands the majority of the world supports Ukraine,” Zelensky said, “and he issues this ultimatum amid ongoing violence.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels, said, “Putin is not in a position to dictate to Ukraine.”

Putin’s speech appeared aimed at preempting the Swiss summit, billed as a “peace conference” despite Russia’s exclusion. Zelensky seeks international support for Kyiv’s terms to end the war.

Putin described his conditions as “very simple,” demanding the full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Russia claimed these regions in 2022, though its control is partial and the annexation is widely rejected as illegal by the United Nations.

Putin stated, “We will cease fire and begin negotiations as soon as Kyiv announces its readiness to withdraw troops and abandon NATO plans.”

Russia controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine as the war enters its third year. Ukraine insists peace must involve a complete Russian withdrawal and restoration of its 1991 borders.

The Swiss summit, attended by over 90 nations and organizations, will focus on food security and nuclear safety rather than territorial issues.

The Kremlin has dismissed the summit as “futile” without Russian participation.

Putin’s conditions reflect his belief in Moscow’s growing leverage as its forces advance. He warned that Ukraine’s situation would deteriorate if it rejected his proposal, which he termed a “real peace proposal.”

He placed responsibility for continued bloodshed on Kyiv and its Western allies.

Ukraine and its allies describe the conflict as a war of imperial conquest. Kyiv argues that demilitarization and neutrality would leave it vulnerable to future Russian aggression.

Putin’s comments coincided with new U.S. sanctions against Russia, a 10-year security pact with Ukraine, and a G7 agreement to use interest on frozen Russian assets to fund a $50 billion loan to Kyiv.

(With files from Reuters)