Putin sets the conditions for peace talks with Ukraine

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia would cease fire and enter peace talks if Ukraine dropped its NATO ambitions and withdrew its forces from four Ukrainian regions, parts of which are under the control of Russia.

“The conditions are very simple," Putin said.

One of the conditions is the full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the entire territory of the non-recognized Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, partly under Russian control.

"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 during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry.

"I repeat, we will do this immediately. Naturally, we will simultaneously guarantee the unhindered and safe withdrawal of Ukrainian units and formations."

Putin noted that he meant the entire administrative territories of the mentioned regions and not only the parts that are currently under the control of the Russian Armed Forces. 

Putin made the remarks on the eve of a peace conference in Switzerland to which Russia has not been invited, saying that without Russia's participation it is impossible to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian issue.