Cease military action, acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory among the conditions set by Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin (File photo)
Russia has told Ukraine it is ready to halt military operations “in a moment” if Kyiv meets a list of conditions, the Kremlin spokesman said on Monday.
It was the most explicit Russian statement so far of the terms it wants to impose on Ukraine to halt what it calls its “special military operation”, now in its 12th day.
LIST OF CONDITIONS SET BY MOSCOW
– Ukraine ceases military action
“We really are finishing the demilitarisation of Ukraine. We will finish it. But the main thing is that Ukraine ceases its military action. They should stop their military action and then no one will shoot,” the Kremlin spokesman said.
– Ukraine changes its constitution to enshrine neutrality
“They should make amendments to the constitution according to which Ukraine would reject any aims to enter any bloc,” he said.
– Acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory
He added, “We have also spoken about how they should recognise that Crimea is Russian territory.”
– Recognise the separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states
“They need to recognise that Donetsk and Lugansk are independent states. And that’s it. It will stop in a moment,” the spokesman said.
There was no immediate reaction from the Ukrainian side.
Russia has attacked Ukraine from the north, east and south, pounding cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv and the port of Mariupol. The invasion launched on February 24 has caused the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, provoked outrage across the world, and led to heavy sanctions on Moscow.
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