Putin demands Ukraine withdraw troops and end NATO bid for peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday that Moscow would halt military actions and initiate peace negotiations “immediately” if Ukraine withdraws its forces from four regions and abandons its bid to join NATO.

Putin stated, “The moment Kyiv agrees to these terms, begins the troop withdrawal, and formally renounces its NATO membership aspirations, we will instantly, quite literally at that very moment, cease fire and commence talks.” He made these remarks during a meeting with Russian diplomats in Moscow.