Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer for a ceasefire in Ukraine, with demands for territory withdrawal and NATO renouncement, was promptly dismissed by Ukraine’s President Zelensky and Western leaders. The proposal was seen as a move for further aggression by US and NATO officials.
On June 14, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed conditions for a ceasefire in Ukraine. He demanded that Ukraine withdraw its troops from four regions annexed by Russia in 2022 and renounce joining NATO. In exchange, Putin offered immediate peace talks. The areas in question cover approximately 26,000 square kilometers, surpassing the size of countries like Israel.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Western officials quickly rejected the proposal. Zelensky compared Putin’s demands to historical ultimatums by Adolf Hitler, stating Ukraine would not negotiate until Russian forces withdrew from all Ukrainian territories, including Crimea.
The offer coincided with a summit in Switzerland, which excluded Russia, and a G7 meeting in Italy. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg characterized Putin’s proposal as a bid for further aggression rather than a true peace effort.
