Putin demands a written rejection of NATO's eastward expansion — Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin demands a written rejection of NATO expansion in exchange for peace with Ukraine. It is reported by Reuters, citing sources.

According to three Russian sources, Putin wants a written promise from major Western powers not to expand the US-led North Atlantic Alliance to the east, including excluding Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and other former Soviet republics from NATO membership.

"According to three sources, Russia also wants Ukraine to be neutral, so that some Western sanctions are lifted, so that the issue of frozen Russian sovereign assets in the West is resolved and the protection of the Russian-speaking population in the West is ensured. Ukraine," the agency reports.

If Putin realizes that he is unable to reach a peace agreement on his own terms, he will seek to show Ukrainians and Europeans with military victories that "the world will be even more painful tomorrow," one of the sources said.