Russian President Vladimir Putin stirred controversy once again during a briefing at the Foreign Ministry on June 14 by offering a peace deal with harsher conditions than ever before. The Financial Times quoted Oleksandr Lytvynenko, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, who viewed Putin’s comments as an attempt to sabotage the global peace summit in Switzerland.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine dismissed any ceasefire offers from Putin, warning that Russia would not stop its offensive even if demands were met. Putin’s remarks, reported by Russian state news, defended the 2022 invasion as a response to Kyiv’s aggression and demanded recognition of “new territorial realities.”
Putin outlined conditions for negotiations with Ukraine, insisting on full control of occupied regions and Ukraine’s neutral, non-aligned status. If rejected, he warned of continued bloodshed. Kyiv promptly rejected the proposal, with an advisor to the president criticizing Russia’s unrealistic and offensive terms.
Putin’s latest peace proposal only deepened tensions between the two countries, showing his unwillingness to negotiate sincerely and adhere to international norms.