Putin says Ukraine must remain neutral for there to be peace

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Ukraine should remain neutral for there to be a chance for peace, adding the borders of Ukraine should be in accordance with the wishes of the people living in Russian-claimed territory.

“If there is no neutrality, it is difficult to imagine the existence of any good neighbourly relations between Russia and Ukraine,” Putin said.

He said Russia had recognised Ukraine's post-Soviet borders based on the understanding it would be neutral. The US-led Nato military alliance has repeatedly said Ukraine would one day join.

If Ukraine was not neutral, it would be “constantly used as a tool in the wrong hands and to the detriment of the interests of the Russian Federation”, Putin said.

Russia controls about a fifth of Ukraine after more than two-and-a-half years of war. Putin on June 14 set out his terms for an end to the conflict: Ukraine would have to drop its Nato ambitions and withdraw all its troops from all the territory of the regions claimed by Russia.

Ukraine rejects the conditions as tantamount to surrender and President Volodymyr Zelensky has presented a “victory plan” for which he has requested additional Western support.

“We are determined to create conditions for a long-term settlement so Ukraine is an independent, sovereign state, and not an instrument in the hands of third countries, and not used in their interests,” Putin said.

Asked about the future borders of Ukraine, Putin said: “The borders of Ukraine should be in accordance with the sovereign decisions of people who live in certain territories and which we call our historical territories.”

Ukraine said it will not rest until every Russian soldier is ejected from its territory, though even US generals said such an aim would take massive resources Ukraine does not have.

Reuters