Vladimir Putin Issues His Conditions for Ending the War in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has put out a list of demands for ending the war in Ukraine — and they’re almost entirely unchanged from even before he launched his brutal invasion more than three years ago.

The authoritarian wants a written letter by Western leaders that they would not allow Ukraine to join NATO — a red line for the security alliance whose charter holds that any country can join if they are approved unanimously by its member states, three Russian sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

Putin further wants NATO to disavow more expansion to the east, also barring Georgia and Moldova from joining the alliance.

He also wants the West to lift sanctions on his country, whose economy has taken a harsh hit since the world protested his invasion of its sovereign neighbor.

Two other conditions — the unfreezing of Russian assets and “protection” for Ukraine’s Russian speakers — are also key desires, according to Reuters. (Read more from “Vladimir Putin Issues His Conditions for Ending the War in Ukraine” HERE)