President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed his key conditions for ending the conflict in Ukraine, stating that Russia will only cease hostilities if Kyiv’s forces withdraw from territories claimed by Moscow.
Putin has consistently sought formal recognition of the Ukrainian territories seized by Russia, including the Crimean peninsula, annexed in 2014, and the eastern Donbas region, largely under Moscow’s occupation.
Kyiv, however, has rejected any suggestion of relinquishing its remaining portions of the Donbas, deeming any concessions to Russia’s aggression unacceptable.
In response to Putin’s address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia has “scorned” efforts “to truly end the war”.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin accused Kyiv of aiming to fight “to the last Ukrainian,” a scenario he claimed Russia was “in principle” prepared for.
He reiterated his position that Russia maintains the upper hand on the battlefield and that hostilities would only cease upon the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donbas region, encompassing Luhansk and Donetsk.
“If they don’t withdraw, we’ll achieve this by force of arms,” he asserted.
However, Russia’s incremental gains in eastern Ukraine have come at a substantial cost in manpower. According to the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, at the current rate, it would take Moscow nearly two more years to seize the remaining areas of the Donetsk region.
These remarks mark Putin’s first public commentary on the recent flurry of diplomatic activity, which included intense discussions between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding a reported peace plan drafted in October by American and Russian officials.
The plan, initially perceived as heavily favoring Moscow’s demands, was subsequently revised during talks between Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators in Geneva, with European representatives also participating.
However, it is believed that the issue of occupied territories, a major point of contention between Moscow and Kyiv, remains unresolved, alongside the demand for security guarantees for Ukraine.
Putin stated that the revised draft plan has been presented to Russia and could serve as a “basis” for a future agreement to end the war.
However, he emphasized the “absolute necessity” of discussing “certain specific points that need to be put in diplomatic language.”
When asked about the possibility of Crimea and the Donbas being recognized as under Russian de facto control but not legally, Putin said: “This is the point of our discussion with our American counterparts.”
He confirmed that a U.S. delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, is expected to visit Moscow in the coming week. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that Witkoff may be joined by the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Zelensky said in a video address on Thursday that Ukrainian and U.S. delegations would meet “to translate the points we secured in Geneva into a form that puts us on the path to peace and security guarantees.”
While the Ukrainian president did not disclose any names, his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, had previously stated that U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was scheduled to visit Kyiv later in the week.
On Wednesday, Trump stated that there were “only a few remaining points of disagreement” between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting that a meeting with President Zelensky to discuss these points hinged on reaching a peace agreement.
During his remarks to reporters, Putin reiterated his disdain for the Ukrainian leadership, which he considers illegitimate. He added that there was therefore “no use” signing any documents with them.
Ukraine has been under martial law since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 and has therefore been unable to hold scheduled elections. Earlier this year, the Ukrainian parliament voted unanimously to affirm the legitimacy of President Zelensky, whose term in office ended in the spring.
Putin also dismissed warnings by European leaders that Russia could attack the European continent within the next decades.
“That sounds laughable to us, really,” he said.
While the White House and Donald Trump have expressed optimism regarding the recent diplomatic efforts towards peace talks, European leaders have repeatedly voiced their skepticism about Putin’s genuine intentions to end the war.
On Wednesday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia of maintaining a post-World War Two mindset and viewing the European continent as a “sphere of influence” where sovereign nations could be “carved up.”
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The European Commission chief said the EU would stand with Ukraine and support it “in every way”.
The US president said he had not heard the audio, but that it sounded like “standard” negotiations.
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