(The Post News)- Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to seize Ukraine’s Donbas region “by military or other means.” He is reiterating his demands for Ukraine to surrender territory. This stance comes as Ukrainian officials prepare for further peace talks with the US, despite ongoing negotiations yielding no breakthroughs.
Putin’s Unyielding Stance
Putin emphasized Russia’s resolve to “liberate Donbas and Novorossiya” during an interview with India Today. He stated that Moscow will achieve its goals set at the beginning of the special military operation. Novorossiya is a historical term referring to territories in the Russian empire. Putin revived the term to declare Crimea as part of Russia in 2014.
Ukraine rejects Putin’s ultimatum, with President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizing the need for pressure on Moscow to achieve peace.
Putin met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff. He also met with Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, on Tuesday. They discussed a 28-point plan drafted by the Trump administration. While Putin acknowledged some points were “more or less acceptable”, others “do not suit us”. The talks aimed to address Russia’s demands for Ukraine to withdraw troops from Donbas and refrain from military action.
Ukrainian Response
Ukrainian officials, including Rustem Umerov and Andrii Hnatov, are traveling to Miami for peace talks with the US. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the need to understand Putin’s reasons for prolonging the war and pressuring Ukraine’s independence.
Zelensky stated in his Thursday night address that their priority is to gather detailed information about Putin’s discussions in Russia. They are specifically focusing on his motivations for extending the war. They are also interested in how he exerts pressure on Ukraine’s sovereignty. This follows high-stakes talks between US and Russian officials. A meeting between Putin and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner took place, but it yielded no concrete breakthroughs.
The path to compromise remains unclear, with Ukraine rejecting Russia’s territorial demands. The Institute for the Study of War analyzed the situation. Their findings indicate that Russian forces may only seize the Donetsk region by August 2027. This is based on the current rate.
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