Putin 'ready for a ceasefire tomorrow' if Ukraine pulls back troops

By David Averre

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Vladimir Putin has announced he will call a ceasefire and immediately enter peace talks if Ukraine is willing to pull back its troops from four regions occupied by Russian forces and give up plans to make a NATO membership bid. 'We will (call a ceasefire) immediately,' Putin said in a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry this morning, adding his proposal is aimed at a 'final resolution' of the conflict and that the Kremlin is 'ready to start negotiations without delay'.

Vladimir Putin has announced he will call a ceasefire and immediately enter peace talks if Ukraine is willing to pull back its troops from four regions occupied by Russian forces and give up plans to make a NATO membership bid. 'We will (call a ceasefire) immediately,' Putin said in a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry this morning, adding his proposal is aimed at a 'final resolution' of the conflict and that the Kremlin is 'ready to start negotiations without delay'.

But the declaration, which comes on the eve of a two-day conference in Switzerland dedicated to building a 'road map' to peace in Ukraine, is seen as a non-starter in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky has routinely refused to consider a deal that would see Ukrainian land surrendered to Moscow . His aide Mykhailo Podolyak said of Putin's peace proposal: 'It's all a complete sham. Therefore - once again - get rid of illusions and stop taking seriously the ''proposals of Russia'' that are offensive to common sense.'

But the declaration, which comes on the eve of a two-day conference in Switzerland dedicated to building a 'road map' to peace in Ukraine, is seen as a non-starter in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky has routinely refused to consider a deal that would see Ukrainian land surrendered to Moscow . His aide Mykhailo Podolyak said of Putin's peace proposal: 'It's all a complete sham. Therefore - once again - get rid of illusions and stop taking seriously the ''proposals of Russia'' that are offensive to common sense.'

But Putin's troops currently control a significant amount of Donetsk and Luhansk, and in September 2022 Moscow unilaterally declared it had annexed those two regions well as parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Putin's forces are also making gains across the border in the north-eastern region of Kharkiv - though his troops previously abandoned large swathes of territory in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia following Ukrainian counterattacks. In the same speech this morning, the Russian president engaged in yet more sabre-rattling, claiming Western leaders are pushing him towards 'the point of no return' over a nuclear World War Three.

But Putin's troops currently control a significant amount of Donetsk and Luhansk, and in September 2022 Moscow unilaterally declared it had annexed those two regions well as parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Putin's forces are also making gains across the border in the north-eastern region of Kharkiv - though his troops previously abandoned large swathes of territory in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia following Ukrainian counterattacks. In the same speech this morning, the Russian president engaged in yet more sabre-rattling, claiming Western leaders are pushing him towards 'the point of no return' over a nuclear World War Three.

'We have come unacceptably close to the point of no return... Calls to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, which possesses the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons demonstrate the extreme recklessness of Western politicians,' Putin declared. 'They either do not understand the scale of the threat they are creating - or are simply obsessed with their own sense of impunity and exceptionalism. Both can lead to tragedy,' he concluded sternly. Putin's unexpected remarks today came as leaders of the G7 leaders met in Italy and as Switzerland prepared to host scores of world leaders for its peace conference in Lucerne.

'We have come unacceptably close to the point of no return... Calls to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, which possesses the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons demonstrate the extreme recklessness of Western politicians,' Putin declared. 'They either do not understand the scale of the threat they are creating - or are simply obsessed with their own sense of impunity and exceptionalism. Both can lead to tragedy,' he concluded sternly. Putin's unexpected remarks today came as leaders of the G7 leaders met in Italy and as Switzerland prepared to host scores of world leaders for its peace conference in Lucerne.

The Kremlin chief said he did not want to 'freeze' the conflict and instead was pushing for a final resolution that would see an end to hostilities. Broader demands for peace that the Russian leader listed included Ukraine's non-nuclear status, restrictions on its military force and protecting the interests of the Russian-speaking population in the country. 'We're urging to turn this tragic page of history and to begin restoring, step-by-step, restore the unity between Russia and Ukraine and in Europe in general,' he said in remarks representing a rare occasion in which he clearly laid out his conditions for the end of the war. The Kremlin has previously said that Kyiv should recognise its territorial gains and drop its bid to join NATO, but Putin has rarely broached the topic himself.

The Kremlin chief said he did not want to 'freeze' the conflict and instead was pushing for a final resolution that would see an end to hostilities. Broader demands for peace that the Russian leader listed included Ukraine's non-nuclear status, restrictions on its military force and protecting the interests of the Russian-speaking population in the country. 'We're urging to turn this tragic page of history and to begin restoring, step-by-step, restore the unity between Russia and Ukraine and in Europe in general,' he said in remarks representing a rare occasion in which he clearly laid out his conditions for the end of the war. The Kremlin has previously said that Kyiv should recognise its territorial gains and drop its bid to join NATO, but Putin has rarely broached the topic himself.

Russia does not fully control either of the four regions it illegally annexed in 2022, but Putin said Kyiv must withdraw from them entirely if it wants peace. In Zaporizhzhia in the south-east, Russia still does not control the region's namesake administrative capital of 700,000 people, and in the neighbouring Kherson region, Moscow withdrew from Kherson's biggest city and capital of the same name in November 2022. The developments come just one day after the Kremlin vowed an 'extremely painful' retaliation as the Group of Seven (G7) countries finalised a 'cynical and criminal' deal to raise some $50billion for Ukraine - partially from seized Russian assets.

Russia does not fully control either of the four regions it illegally annexed in 2022, but Putin said Kyiv must withdraw from them entirely if it wants peace. In Zaporizhzhia in the south-east, Russia still does not control the region's namesake administrative capital of 700,000 people, and in the neighbouring Kherson region, Moscow withdrew from Kherson's biggest city and capital of the same name in November 2022. The developments come just one day after the Kremlin vowed an 'extremely painful' retaliation as the Group of Seven (G7) countries finalised a 'cynical and criminal' deal to raise some $50billion for Ukraine - partially from seized Russian assets.

Ukraine has been eager for fresh assistance to hold the line against Vladimir Putin 's troops, who since the war entered its third year in February have made significant gains on the battlefield. But this week's G7 summit in Italy proved particularly fruitful for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the group's leaders agreeing to pull together a 'historic' loan worth $50billion that is backed by the interest earned on Russian assets frozen in the EU and U.S.

Ukraine has been eager for fresh assistance to hold the line against Vladimir Putin 's troops, who since the war entered its third year in February have made significant gains on the battlefield. But this week's G7 summit in Italy proved particularly fruitful for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the group's leaders agreeing to pull together a 'historic' loan worth $50billion that is backed by the interest earned on Russian assets frozen in the EU and U.S.

Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden also sent what they described as a message of unified opposition to the Russian President, inking a key security agreement that will see Washington provide ten years of military and financial support for Kyiv . 'He cannot wait us out , he cannot divide us,' Biden declared, while Zelensky said the agreement demonstrated the 'credibility of American support for our Ukrainian independence.' The details of the plan to fund Ukraine are yet to be revealed, with an official statement from the G7 expected later today.

Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden also sent what they described as a message of unified opposition to the Russian President, inking a key security agreement that will see Washington provide ten years of military and financial support for Kyiv . 'He cannot wait us out , he cannot divide us,' Biden declared, while Zelensky said the agreement demonstrated the 'credibility of American support for our Ukrainian independence.' The details of the plan to fund Ukraine are yet to be revealed, with an official statement from the G7 expected later today.

But diplomats confirmed that the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States had all reached an agreement to offer a loan to Kyiv. The highly anticipated agreement will leverage interest and income from the more than $260billion in frozen Russian assets, largely held in Europe, to secure a $50billion loan from the U.S., along with additional loans from other partners. The first disbursements will be made this year, a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said yesterday, adding that it will take time for Ukraine to use all the money. European officials have resisted confiscating the assets entirely and simply handing them over to Ukraine, citing legal and financial stability concerns. But officials say those assets are generating roughly $3billion in interest every year, which can be used to secure the loan.

But diplomats confirmed that the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States had all reached an agreement to offer a loan to Kyiv. The highly anticipated agreement will leverage interest and income from the more than $260billion in frozen Russian assets, largely held in Europe, to secure a $50billion loan from the U.S., along with additional loans from other partners. The first disbursements will be made this year, a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said yesterday, adding that it will take time for Ukraine to use all the money. European officials have resisted confiscating the assets entirely and simply handing them over to Ukraine, citing legal and financial stability concerns. But officials say those assets are generating roughly $3billion in interest every year, which can be used to secure the loan.

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