Putin Demands Ukraine Renounce NATO and Stay Neutral in Peace Talks Involving Trump

Jan 15, 2025, 02:50 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has set stringent conditions for peace talks with Ukraine, demanding that the country renounce its aspirations to join NATO and commit to neutrality with a limited military, according to reports from Bloomberg. These demands are part of potential negotiations involving incoming U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin's terms also include maintaining control over approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, though Russia might be open to some territorial exchanges. Ukraine, on the other hand, is preparing for discussions with Trump post-inauguration, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizing the importance of NATO and EU membership as key security guarantees. Zelenskyy also highlighted the need for significant arms packages and the potential deployment of foreign military contingents on Ukrainian soil as additional security measures. In Warsaw, Zelenskyy met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to discuss defense cooperation and support for Ukraine's NATO accession. Zelenskyy noted that about 33-34% of Ukraine's weapons are domestically produced, with the EU supplying 30% and the US 40%. Poland is preparing a 46th aid package worth over 200 million euros for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Trump's advisors support the creation of a demilitarized zone in Ukraine under European troop supervision.