President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning that Russia will extend its territorial gains in Ukraine if diplomatic negotiations fail. This declaration comes as the United States, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, attempts to broker peace following nearly four years of conflict, which escalated after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In an annual meeting with senior military officials, Putin emphasized that Russia prefers to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. Yet, he stated that if Ukraine and its allies refuse to engage meaningfully, Russia will pursue its objectives through military means. “If the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means,” he said.
Putin’s remarks refer to Ukrainian territories seized by Russian forces, actions that have drawn widespread condemnation as violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty. According to Putin, the Russian military currently holds the strategic initiative along the front line and is poised to expand a “buffer security zone” along the Russian border. He claimed, “Our troops are different now; they are battle-hardened and there is no other such army in the world now.”
Currently, Russia asserts control over approximately 19 percent of Ukraine, including the Crimea peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, as well as significant portions of the eastern Donbas region and parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukraine firmly maintains that it will never accept these changes, with the majority of the international community recognizing these areas as part of Ukraine.
The military’s next phase, according to Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, includes increasing the pace of Russia’s offensive by 2026. A presentation during his speech indicated that Russia plans to allocate 5.1 percent of its gross domestic product to the war effort in 2025. European leaders have expressed their unwavering support for Ukraine, asserting that Russia should not be rewarded for its aggression, which followed years of conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces in the Donbas.
Putin also criticized the previous administration of US president Joe Biden, alleging that it sought to undermine Russia, a claim European leaders have denied. He accused some European politicians of inciting fear regarding a potential conflict with Russia, asserting that warnings of a possible Russian attack on NATO countries are “pure nonsense.”
In response to these tensions, Belousov has directed criticism towards European countries, suggesting they are undermining peace negotiations and fostering a narrative of impending conflict between Russia and NATO. “Such a policy creates real prerequisites for the continuation of military operations next year, 2026,” he stated.
The situation remains dire on the ground, as at least 26 people were injured by Russian glide bombs in Zaporizhzhia and surrounding areas on Wednesday. Regional administration head Ivan Fedorov reported that the attack damaged residential buildings and critical infrastructure, including an educational facility. Additionally, the Ukrainian air force indicated that Russia launched at least 69 long-range drones overnight, with air defenses intercepting or jamming 29 of them.
In a separate incident in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, drone attacks resulted in injuries to two individuals and damage to several private residences, as reported by regional emergency officials.
As diplomatic efforts continue to stall, the potential for further escalation remains a pressing concern, underscoring the urgency for a resolution to this prolonged conflict.
