Russian President Vladimir Putin told his top commanders on Wednesday that if Kyiv and its partners refuse to meet his demands, Moscow will continue its offensive in Ukraine and push beyond current frontlines.
While he hinted that the war could still be settled by diplomatic means—especially as former U.S. President Donald Trump is calling for breakthroughs—Putin made clear that Russia would back away from the table only if negotiations collapsed.
“We would prefer to do this and eliminate the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy, but if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands through military means,” he said.
The leader stressed that his army was fully prepared to keep up the push along the lines and warned that his forces would be ready to extend what he called a “buffer security zone.”
Russia holds most of Donbas but has yet to capture defensive Donetsk. Zelensky has insisted that it cannot surrender that area without NATO guarantees. On top of that, Putin has demanded that Ukraine relinquish Crimea, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and has urged Kyiv to downsize its forces and abandon any aspirations to join NATO. He rejected any deal that would allow foreign troops to operate within Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky dismissed the Ukrainian demands as unacceptable, noting that Kyiv’s allies fear the conditions would leave the country vulnerable to another Russian invasion. Still, he has signaled a willingness to cede some land and scrap the NATO bid if the United States and its partners can promise security guarantees comparable to those enjoyed by NATO members.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
