"Putin's Two Demands to Ukraine... Includes 'Face-Saving' Level, Reports from Turkey"

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. / Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Yeeun] The two demands put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine have come into focus. These were revealed during a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, who acts as a 'mediator' between the two countries.

On the 17th (local time), the British BBC reported, "Some of Putin's demands were disclosed through Ibrahim Kalin, the chief advisor to the Turkish president, who listened to the phone call between Putin and President Erdo?an."

Putin's demands largely revolve around 'saving face' and the 'territorial issue of Ukraine.' BBC assessed that the first demand is a condition that Ukraine could relatively easily accept.

The core of the first demand is that Ukraine must abandon its bid to join the Western security alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and remain a neutral country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement on the 15th during the NATO Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) leaders' meeting held in London, UK, via video conference, that "Ukraine will not join NATO," also supports this.

Since 2019, the Ukrainian government had strongly pursued NATO membership, even enshrining it as a national goal in the preamble of its constitution. However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the 24th of last month, as the war showed signs of prolongation and the damage increased, it appears that this decision was made.

Additionally, it was reported that the demands include implementing disarmament measures to prevent Ukraine from threatening Russia and preserving the Russian language within Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government forces are conducting joint exercises on the 15th (local time) in the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic in the eastern region. / Photo by AP Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Russia's second demand concerns the 'territorial issue.' Although spokesperson Kalin did not elaborate on this item, he only mentioned that it relates to the territorial disputes involving the eastern Ukrainian conflict zone of Donbas and the southern Crimean Peninsula.

Russia forcibly annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and the pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region declared the establishment of independent states.

BBC reported that it can be inferred that Russia demanded Ukraine to relinquish sovereignty over these regions.

BBC pointed out, "Putin's demands are not as harsh as feared. The value of the violence Russia inflicted on Ukraine (to make such demands) seems almost negligible." However, it added that concerns remain that if the details are not sufficiently settled, Putin could use this as a pretext to invade Ukraine again.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.