Vladimir Putin has issued a sweeping ultimatum to Britain, demanding the UK abandon its nuclear protection of European allies as part of a proposed deal to end the war in Ukraine.
A document drawn up by Russian negotiators sets out a series of conditions Moscow wants met before agreeing to peace, including forcing Britain and France to withdraw their nuclear protection from other European countries.
Document dated November 10
The demands, which would fundamentally reshape Europe's security arrangements, are contained in a paper dated November 10 and obtained by The New York Times from a person involved in the negotiations.
Moscow is effectively seeking to strip European NATO members of a key layer of protection against Russian aggression, while also weakening the military alliance's presence along its eastern borders.
NATO withdrawal and Ukraine restrictions
The document reportedly calls for NATO forces to withdraw to positions held in 1997, before the alliance expanded into eastern Europe and the Baltic states. It also demands an end to Western military assistance to Ukraine, including the supply of weapons and military equipment, and insists Kyiv must abandon its ambition to join NATO.
One particularly significant demand concerns Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent. The Kremlin wants the UK and France to rule out using their nuclear weapons to protect other European countries, potentially leaving NATO members without their backing in the event of a Russian attack.
Revived demands and diplomatic efforts
The proposals revive demands Moscow made in December 2021, just months before launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia has also indicated it could accept Ukraine joining the European Union, provided Kyiv remains outside its common defence arrangements.
The conditions would leave Ukraine with significant restrictions on its future security while requiring Western nations to scale back their military commitments. They come amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, with Russian, Ukrainian and American representatives holding talks in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.
The latest document suggests Moscow remains determined to secure sweeping concessions rather than simply negotiate an end to the fighting.
