Ukraine must withdraw troops from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as well the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, adding that once this is done, Russia will enter into negotiations, TASS reports.
"Ukrainian troops must be pulled out from the entire territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions <…>. As soon as Kiev says it is ready for such a decision and starts withdrawing troops from those regions and as soon as it officially commits not to join NATO, we will immediately order a ceasefire and embrace talks," Putin said at a meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
According to the Russian leader, Moscow’s prerequisites for talks are "as simple as that." Besides, Moscow has always sought peace, he reiterated.
Moscow guarantees unimpeded and safe withdrawal of Ukrainian units from Donbass and Novorossiya if Kiev decides to pull back, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The president said Moscow will be ready for talks with Kiev if Ukraine pulls its troops out from Donbass and Novorossiya and gives up plans to join NATO.
"Naturally, at the same time we guarantee unimpeded and safe withdrawal of Ukrainian units and formations. Of course, we would like to expect that Kiev will make these decisions - to withdraw troops, adopt a non-aligned status and start a dialogue with Russia (something that Ukraine's future existence hinges on) - on its own," he said.
The president said the Ukrainian government, when it makes a decision, should be based on the current realities and be guided by the genuine national interests of the Ukrainian people, instead of acting "on orders from the West."
"Although, of course, there are big doubts about this," Putin stated.
Russian troops came close to Kiev in February-March 2022, and Moscow mulled various scenarios then, but the decision to storm the Ukrainian capital was never made, Russian President Vladimir Putin recounted at a meeting with senior Russian diplomats.
"At that period, in February-March 2022, our troops approached Kiev. <…> But no political decision to storm the city of 3 million people was made," Putin said, rejecting any speculations about the issue.
That was actually an operation to force the Kiev regime into peace, the Russian president explained.
"The troops were there to push the Ukrainian side to talks, to try and find an acceptable solution and therefore stop the war unleashed by Kiev on Donbass back in 2014. [The move was aimed at] solving issues that threatened our country’s security, Russia’s security," Putin said.
Back then, both Moscow and Kiev did reach agreement that suited both sides, he concluded.
