Putin lays out ceasefire demands to Ukraine

2 1/2 years into the war, a truce is on the table. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking Friday, proposing an immediate ceasefire deal to Ukraine, but it comes with a laundry list of conditions. The Russian leader is demanding that Kiev withdraw all forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Karsen and Zaparizia in eastern and southern Ukraine, 4 regions annexed by Moscow in 2022. The Kremlin also wants Kiev to renounce plans to join NATO if these conditions are met. Putin says negotiations would immediately begin, Kiev reportedly calling the proposal manipulative and absurd, the US also balking at the conditions. He is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to to bring about a peace. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says Putin himself could end the conflict by removing troops from Ukrainian sovereignty. Putin's fresh demands coming on the eve of a peace conference in Switzerland, where scores of world leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, attending as they try to map out first steps towards peace in Ukraine with the war. The Kremlin not invited to the meeting. As peace talks continue, so do discussions on providing financial and military aid to Kiev. With Canada donating 900 Canadian made drones to Ukraine. Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair making the announcement in Brussels during the NATO summit Friday. Blair also announcing the Canadian LED battle group in Latvia is being scaled up to brigades. G7 leaders also agreed to provide $50 billion of loans for Ukraine using interest from Russian assets frozen after Moscow's invasion. Putin reacting to that decision, warning that Western countries providing loans to Kiev using frozen Russian assets is considered theft and would not go unpunished. Thea Baugh, City News.