“We need to sit down and discuss this seriously,” Mr Putin told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan. “Every word matters.”

He described US President Donald Trump’s plan as “a set of issues put forward for discussion” rather than a draft agreement.

“If Ukrainian troops withdraw from the territories they occupy, hostilities will cease. If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this by force,” the Russian leader said.

Kremlin officials have had little to say so far about the peace plan put forward last week by Mr Trump. Since Russia’s invasion of its neighbour, Mr Putin has shown no willingness to budge from his goals in Ukraine despite Mr Trump’s push for a settlement.

Mr Putin has previously demanded that Ukraine completely withdraw from the entirety of Donetsk, Luhans

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