Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia will cease fire and engage in peace negotiations with Ukraine if Kyiv withdraws its troops from four contested regions and renounces plans to join NATO. This announcement was made during a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow on June 14, 2024. Putin's specified conditions include the full control of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions by Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly stated that there is no point in negotiating with Russia while it continues to breach agreements, is unlikely to accept these terms. Zelenskyy indicated this stance while attending a global peace summit in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, aimed at rallying international support for Ukraine’s peace plan.
The peace summit, set to occur on June 15-16, 2024, will gather around 80 world leaders. Zelenskyy is expected to focus on issues related to nuclear safety, food security, and the return of Ukrainians held by Russia. Notably, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil will not participate. Ukrainian officials foresee the possibility of negotiations by mid-2025, conditional on sustained Western support outpacing Russia economically and militarily.