Putin demands Ukraine recognize fake referendums, threatens new war

Putin again raised the issue of Ukraine's "neutrality" and the need to prevent Ukraine from acquiring nuclear weapons.

In addition, the dictator wants Ukraine to recognize the illegal "referendums" held in the occupied territories. He warned that ignoring "these results means the likelihood of a renewed armed conflict."

Putin is also demanding that Ukraine "ensure the rights of Russian-speaking and pro-Russian residents."

The dictator accused "external parties" of not seeking to end the conflict, but rather of "using Ukraine to pursue malicious goals."

"Ukraine deserves a better fate than being a tool in the hands of external parties working against Russia," the dictator cynically stated.

Russia’s demands to Ukraine

As a reminder, Ukraine and Russia held two rounds of negotiations in Istanbul. During the meetings, the Russian delegation presented unacceptable demands for ending the war against Ukraine.

Sources of RBC-Ukraine reported that Russia demanded Ukraine adopt a neutral status (referring to NATO membership), effectively give up five regions (including territories not controlled by Russia), withdraw troops from those territories, renounce reparations, and agree to the "protection of the rights of Russian speakers."

Reuters also published a list of demands made by dictator Vladimir Putin to Ukraine as conditions for ending the war. Among them were written guarantees that NATO would not expand eastward and the lifting of certain sanctions.