World Courant
Vladimir Putin has mentioned Ukraine should withdraw troops from areas Russia claims it has annexed earlier than a ceasefire might start – a proposal the Ukrainian president known as a Hitler-like “ultimatum.”
Volodymyr Zelensky has lengthy mentioned that Ukraine won’t negotiate with Moscow till Russian troops depart all Ukrainian territory, together with Crimea.
The Russian president additionally mentioned Ukraine should surrender on becoming a member of NATO earlier than peace talks can start.
Putin’s assertion outlining the phrases for a ceasefire comes as leaders from 90 international locations put together to fulfill in Switzerland on Saturday to debate paths to peace in Ukraine – a summit for which Russia has not has been invited.
At a gathering of Russian ambassadors in Moscow on Friday, Putin known as on the Ukrainian authorities to withdraw from 4 areas partially occupied by Russia: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia.
He additionally mentioned that Ukraine must formally abandon its efforts to hitch the NATO army alliance in an effort to cease Russia’s advance.
Putin mentioned: “As quickly as Kiev declares that it’s prepared for such a choice… an order from our aspect will instantly observe to stop fireplace and begin negotiations, actually on the identical minute.”
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mychailo Podolyak known as the proposal a “full sham” and “insulting to frequent sense.”
Afterward Friday, President Zelensky instructed Italian tv channel Sky TG24: “These messages are ultimatum messages. It’s the identical factor Hitler did when he mentioned: ‘give me a part of Czechoslovakia and it’ll finish right here’.”
US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin additionally rejected Russian calls for, saying: “Putin has illegally occupied sovereign Ukrainian territory.
“He isn’t able to dictate to Ukraine what to do to realize peace.”
NATO Secretary Normal Jens Stoltenberg mentioned Putin’s proposal was “not made in good religion.”
Russia analyst Tatiana Stanovaya mentioned Putin’s plan is a sequence of “maximalist” calls for that supply no concessions, timed to devalue the peace convention earlier than it begins.
Mr Zelensky will attend the summit at Lake Lucerne on Saturday, the place he’ll hope to indicate that he nonetheless enjoys broad worldwide assist.
The Swiss authorities has mentioned the purpose of the summit is “to offer a discussion board the place world leaders will talk about paths in the direction of a simply and lasting peace in Ukraine, based mostly on worldwide regulation and the UN Constitution.”
Different attendees embrace US Vice President Kamala Harris, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen.
Russia was not invited and China has mentioned it won’t attend with out Russia’s presence.
The peace summit comes subsequent G7 leaders agreed to make use of curiosity from frozen Russian property to assist Ukraine combat invading Russian forces.
About $325 billion in property had been frozen by the G7 international locations, along with the EU, following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The pot of property generates about $3 billion a 12 months in curiosity.
In accordance with the G7 plan, that $3 billion will likely be used to repay the annual curiosity on a $50 billion mortgage for the Ukrainians, taken out on worldwide markets.
The cash shouldn’t be anticipated to reach till the tip of this 12 months, however is seen as a longer-term resolution to assist Ukraine’s struggle effort and financial system.
On the sidelines of the G7 summit, the US and Ukraine additionally signed a 10-year bilateral safety settlement, which Kyiv hailed as “historic”.
Vladimir Putin units the phrases for the ceasefire in Ukraine
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