RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin today offered a ceasefire in Ukraine if Kiev withdraws its troops from the four regions Moscow has occupied.

President Putin added that the deal must also include Ukraine renouncing plans to join the Nato military alliance.

Mr Putin spoke out as Switzerland prepares to host a summit this weekend to try to map out a possible peace plan, though Russia was not invited.

Ukraine has so far insisted Russia withdraw from all internationally recognised Ukrainian territory, including the four regions Mr Putin named (Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson) which are still battlegrounds as well as Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 and completely controls.

In a speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry Mr Putin said if the conditions were met Moscow would implement a ceasefire “immediately” that would be part of a plan to achieve a “final resolution” of the conflict in Ukraine rather than “freezing it,” the implication being that Ukraine would have to accept the eastern regions being permanently incorporated into Russia.

Without Russian involvement the Swiss talks are unlikely to produce any results, with analysts viewing them as a bid by Kiev to flag waning Western support for a war in which Russia appears to have the upper hand.

Several dozen attendees will be heads of state or government, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who have recently pledged increased military assistance.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will also take part.