“If Ukraine retreats, the war will stop; if not, it will continue,” — Putin

“If Ukraine retreats, the war will stop; if not, it will continue,” — Putin

At a press conference following his visit to Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Putin spoke about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the U.S. peace plan. According to Putin, if Ukrainian forces withdraw from the occupied territories, hostilities will cease; if they do not, Russia will be forced to drive them out by force. He also stated that Russia has no plans to attack Europe, calling such rumors “nonsense.” Putin emphasized the need to maintain contacts with the U.S. and the G7, but noted that final versions of a peace agreement have not yet been reached.