Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected what he described as Ukraine’s latest proposal to scale back hostilities, insisting that Russia will continue its military campaign until it fully captures four Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow.
Speaking in an interview with Russian state television on Sunday, Putin said Moscow would not halt its offensive, arguing that Ukraine’s suggestion to suspend long-range strikes was an attempt to ease pressure on its forces along the 1,250-kilometre front line rather than a genuine step towards peace.
“It is clear why this proposal is being made, because our strikes deep inside Ukrainian territory are stronger, have a greater impact and are, frankly, more destructive,” Putin said. He added that helping what he referred to as the “Kyiv regime” survive was not part of Russia’s objectives.
The Russian leader reaffirmed that Moscow’s primary military goal remains the complete capture of Donbas and Novorossiya, referring to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Russia annexed the four regions in 2022, although it does not fully control all of them.
Putin also acknowledged that intensified Ukrainian drone attacks have caused fuel shortages in several parts of Russia but maintained that the situation was under control. He said the strikes had not affected Russia’s battlefield operations and announced plans to significantly expand the country’s air defence capabilities to counter future drone attacks.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed a face-to-face meeting with Putin in an effort to advance peace negotiations. However, the Kremlin leader has declined the invitation, and Ukraine has yet to officially respond to Putin’s latest remarks.
Putin also expressed optimism that United States-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict would resume. He said Russia expects another visit from US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner once tensions surrounding the US-Israel conflict with Iran subside.
The Russian president confirmed that discussions with US officials had explored possible pathways to ending the war, although he acknowledged that no formal agreement was reached during previous talks with US President Donald Trump in Alaska.
Putin further suggested that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko could play a role in future peace negotiations. While Belarus allowed Russian forces to launch the 2022 invasion from its territory, Lukashenko has repeatedly stated that Belarusian troops will not directly participate in the fighting.
More than four years into the conflict, prospects for a negotiated settlement remain uncertain as both sides continue to exchange military strikes while maintaining sharply different positions on the conditions required for peace.
