**Russia’s Conditions for Ending Ukraine War Revealed**
Russian President Vladimir Putin has set out strict conditions for ending the war in Ukraine, according to Reuters. In order to bring an end to Russia’s aggression, Putin is demanding a written pledge from NATO not to accept any new Eastern European members and the lifting of several sanctions.
**No NATO Expansion in Sight**
One senior Russian source told Reuters that Putin is ready for a peace agreement, but “not at any price.” This means that Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and others will be barred from joining NATO in the future. Russia has long claimed that Ukraine’s NATO aspirations have been one of the key causes of the Russian invasion.
**Russian Demands**
Moscow wants to see Ukraine as a neutral country, free from NATO’s influence. Additionally, Putin is seeking to lift some Western sanctions and resolve the issue of frozen Russian assets. The Kremlin also claims it needs to “protect” Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine, although the Ukrainian government has passed legislation in recent years to promote the use of the Ukrainian language.
**Contextualizing Russia’s Claims**
It’s worth noting that while there are Russian-language speakers in Ukraine, the country is not oppressing them. The Ukrainian government has been working to promote Ukrainian culture and language after decades of Russification under Soviet rule. Moreover, Ukraine applied for NATO membership in September 2022, but its bid has yet to be formally accepted due to a lack of consensus among member states.
**Putin’s Military Strategy**
One source close to the Russian President revealed that Putin realizes he will not get everything he wants, so he plans to show Ukraine and Europe his military gains as proof that “peace tomorrow will be even more painful.” This strategy is likely an attempt to weaken Kyiv’s resolve and gain concessions in negotiations.
**Echoes of Trump**
The narrative pushed by Russia that Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO have been one of the root causes of the war has been echoed by former US President Donald Trump. However, this claim has been rejected by Ukraine as a condition for peace talks.
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