Russian president’s new ultimatum comes as foreign envoys meet in Switzerland to discuss western-led peace plan

Vladimir Putin has demanded that Kyiv cede more land, withdraw troops deeper inside its own country, and drop its Nato bid in order for him to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Putin’s fresh ceasefire demands were issued as envoys from more than 90 countries, including Ukraine, convene in Switzerland this weekend to discuss a western-led peace plan. Russia is not invited to the conference and the president’s remarks on Friday were likely to have been timed as a spoiler to that summit.

Speaking with diplomats at the Russian foreign ministry, Putin publicly updated his terms for ending the war in Ukraine for the first time since he launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, when he demanded regime change in Kyiv and the country’s “demilitarisation”.

The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, said Putin was in “no position” to make demands on Ukraine and could end the war he had started “today if he chose to do that.”

      • Andy@slrpnk.netEnglish
        4·
        5 months ago

        As far as I can tell, that’s de rigeur for these now. It’s largely the same on both sides in the other war too.

        I think international pressure needs to be brought to bear. I can appreciate that the end of the war will likely require unpopular concessions. But I think humanitarian concerns as well as the need to halt the advance of authoritarian nationalism around the world requires an end to the two big wars.

        If we can’t find an end, the US should withdraw from both. Our role is prolonging them.

        • mozz@mbin.grits.dev
          49·
          5 months ago

          Can I come to your house and start taking your things and say you’re prolonging the suffering if you try to stop me, and we should just stop and go our separate ways (after I take a few more things)?

          • Andy@slrpnk.netEnglish
            1·
            5 months ago

            I don’t really get how this analogy is useful. I’m not of the opinion that anything Russia is doing is justifiable or just.

            Putin’s was of aggression is very bad. We agree on that.

        • ghostdoggtv@lemmy.worldEnglish
          26·
          5 months ago

          Lots of passive voice here. Ukraine is fighting off an existential threat from a historically genocidal state. All Putin has to do is stop issuing orders and the war ends right this second.