SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Ukraine must be neutral to have a chance at peace, adding that Ukraine's borders must conform to the wishes of the people living in what it calls Russia.
“If there is no neutrality, it is difficult to imagine that there is a relationship between Russia and Ukraine,” said Putin.
Putin said that Russia had recognized Ukraine's post-Soviet borders based on the understanding that they would remain neutral. The US-led NATO military alliance has repeatedly said that Ukraine will join one day.
If Ukraine was neutral, “it will always be used as a tool in the wrong hands and harm 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 laid out his goals for ending the conflict: Ukraine will have to abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw all its troops from all areas that Russia claims.
Ukraine rejects those terms as tantamount to surrender and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has launched a “victory plan” asking for more Western support.
“We are willing to create conditions for a long-term stay so that Ukraine becomes an independent, independent country, not a tool in the hands of third countries, and can be used for their interests,” Putin said.
Asked about the future borders of Ukraine, Putin said: “Ukraine's borders should be in accordance with the independent decisions of the people living in certain areas that we call our historical areas.”
Ukraine says it will not rest until every last Russian soldier is removed from its territory, although US generals say such a goal would take huge resources that Ukraine does not currently have.
(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Mark Trevelyan)
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