Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Friday to “immediately” order a cease-fire in Ukraine and start negotiations if Kyiv began withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected what he called an ultimatum by Putin to surrender more territory... [the offer] didn’t include any new demands. The Kremlin has said before that Kyiv should recognize its territorial gains and drop its bid to join NATO.

Russia occupies most, but not all, of the territory in question. They are winning the war, and this is the type of offer you make when you're winning. As the article notes, this is not some new request; this has been on the table for a while.

Ukraine is losing, but slowly. They could take this deal now, saving their own people's lives, or they could continue sending men into the meat grinder and wind up with this or worse in maybe another year.

Besides seeking to join NATO, Ukraine wants Russian forces out of its territory, including the Crimean Peninsula that was illegally annexed in 2014; the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity; and that Russia be held accountable for war crimes and for Moscow to pay reparations to Kyiv.

Compare Russia's terms to this -- a totally delusional offer for the losing side to suggest.

[–] lorty@lemmygrad.ml 17 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Considering the only reason the war went on was because NATO blocked the peace talks, I'd argue Russia only cares about their security interests being respected.

[–] ksynwa@lemmygrad.ml 13 points 4 months ago

Not just that but the Minsk accords were meant to be ruse as Merkel said. Unfortunately westerners don't know or care for how long this war has been incited. "Where were you for the last 8 years" is now a wikipedia page that shitlibs can throw at you as a thought terminating argument.

[–] coolusername@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB10014.html

Oops. They played the reverse uno card

[–] Mzuark@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

That sounds like nobody wants to do it

[–] yogthos@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 4 months ago

I think they're starting to realize the gig is up at this point.

[–] Sodium_nitride@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It makes perfect sense that many European members are hesitant to pledge yearly military support to a country that may loose the war it is fighting. This pledge alone would signal that western leaderships have no plans for the end of the conflict. Furthermore, I'm sure that many European government officials want to normalize economic relations with Russia again in order to get cheaper gas. They don't want to live near a permanent conflict zone.

[–] yogthos@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 4 months ago

they want to turn project Ukraine into a subscription service