MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened that if his negotiations don’t yield results, he will order his troops to take over the Ukrainian territories.
Addressing the annual meeting of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Putin indicated that he refuses to give up the demand that Ukraine must hand over certain regions even in the face of pressure from the US and European countries for signing a peace agreement.
The European allies of Ukraine were accused by Putin of being the main supporters of the war and he also warned that, in the case of no agreement, Russia would use military means to reach its goals. The president of Russia remarked that although Russia was willing to accept the dispute through negotiations, power on the battlefield would be the option if Ukraine and its foreign supporters refused to change their position and rejected serious negotiation channels.
Putin openly pointed out the territories in Ukraine, claimed by Russia, as the main issue of the dispute in the peace negotiations that are still going on.
In the meantime, the United States and Europe have increased their diplomatic activity aimed at war cessation, but still, the most significant differences remain concerning the issue of land and security guarantees for Ukraine.
As per the analytical paper of the Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in the U.S., if Russia maintains the same intensity of military operations, it will be able to take the whole Donbas, the eastern part of Ukraine, by August 2027.
US President Trump: Russia-Ukraine peace deal near completion
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine is nearing completion, indicating a conclusion to the current conflict.
Addressing reporters at the White House, President Trump announced that conversations have taken place between European officials and that the U.S. Peace initiative has garnered complete backing from European leaders.
“We have witnessed advancement following the recent discussions in Berlin” Trump stated, noting that conversations have also involved Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the possible ceasefire.
Moreover, European leaders have concurred that any security assurances offered to Ukraine by the West must involve participation in the arrangement.
However, leaders have noted that the issue of territorial control remains a major obstacle in the ongoing negotiations.
