BRUSSELS: The United States and NATO on Friday rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conditions that Ukraine should withdraw from territory claimed by Moscow to end the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukrainian territory, AFP reported.
Following a NATO meeting in Brussels, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin emphasized that Putin, by illegally occupying sovereign Ukrainian territory, lacks the authority to dictate terms for peace. “Putin has occupied, illegally occupied, sovereign Ukrainian territory. “Putin is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to bring about peace,” Austin said.
Austin asserted that Putin could end the conflict immediately if he chose to withdraw Russian forces from Ukrainian soil, urging him to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty. “He could end this today, if he chose to do that, and we call upon him to do that, and to leave Ukrainian sovereign territory.”
Putin’s demands, articulated on Friday, stipulate that Ukraine must withdraw its troops from territories claimed by Russia and abandon its aspirations for NATO membership to halt the ongoing military offensive. However, Ukraine swiftly rebuffed these conditions, rejecting what it perceives as an attempt to coerce Kyiv into surrendering key strategic positions.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg echoed Austin’s sentiments, denouncing Putin’s proposals as lacking sincerity and good faith. “This is not a proposal made in good faith,” Stoltenberg told reporters.
Stoltenberg emphasized that Putin’s demands effectively endorse Russia’s war aims, seeking to compel Ukraine to relinquish more territory than Russia has currently occupied. “This is a proposal that actually means that Russia should achieve their war aims, by expecting that Ukrainians should give up significantly more land than Russia has been able to occupy so far,” he said.
Stoltenberg termed Putin’s demands as emblematic of Russia’s aggressive posture, aimed at furthering its control over Ukraine through coercion and territorial expansion. “This is a proposal of more aggression, more occupation and, and it demonstrates, in a way, that Russia’s aim is to control Ukraine.”
📸 #NATO Defence Ministers gather for a family photo.
This is the last ministerial meeting before the #NATOSummit in Washington next month#DefMin pic.twitter.com/wkGJBeNM6x
— NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah (@NATOpress) June 14, 2024
