Putin Offers Ceasefire if Ukraine Withdraws and Drops NATO Plans

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he will call a ceasefire and enter peace talks if Ukraine withdraws its troops from four regions occupied by Russian forces and drops its plans to join NATO. This proposal includes additional demands such as Ukraine maintaining a non-nuclear status, imposing restrictions on its military force, and lifting Western sanctions against Russia. Putin's remarks came ahead of a conference in Switzerland aimed at developing a 'road map' to peace in Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously refused to consider any deal that would see Ukrainian land surrendered to Moscow. Kyiv's position remains firm on joining NATO and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from all of its territory. The proposal from Putin appears unlikely to gain traction with Ukraine, given its current stance.

The situation unfolds as the Group of Seven (G7) countries have agreed to raise $50 billion for Ukraine, partially from seized Russian assets. The deal will leverage interest and income from the more than $260 billion in frozen Russian assets, primarily held in Europe, to secure a $50 billion loan from the US, along with additional loans from other partners. The first disbursements are expected to be made this year.