President Vladimir Putin has doubled down on his core demands for ending the war in Ukraine, saying Russia will lay down arms only if Kyiv's troops withdraw from territory claimed by Moscow.
Putin has long pushed for legal recognition of the Ukrainian territories Russia has seized by force, including the Crimean peninsula and the Donbas region. For Kyiv, conceding these territories is not an option, leading to an impasse in negotiations.
After Putin's address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Russia's approach, stating that it undermines genuine peace efforts. During a trip to Kyrgyzstan, Putin accused Kyiv of wanting to prolong the conflict and reiterated that Russia would continue its operations until Ukrainian forces exited Donbas.
The remarks occurred against a backdrop of recent diplomatic maneuvers discussing a peace plan, though key issues regarding territorial control remain unresolved. While the US expressed optimism about a breakthrough, skepticism persists among European leaders regarding Putin's genuine willingness to end hostilities.
Putin’s comments highlighted the contentious nature of the conflict, with his ongoing dismissals of Ukraine's leadership complicating the possibility of agreements. He described NATO’s concerns about Russia's military ambitions as exaggerated and reiterated his strategy of military pressure to achieve political ends.
