Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is prepared to take full control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region by military force unless Ukrainian troops withdraw, reiterating Moscow’s core demand that has blocked progress in recent U.S.-mediated negotiations.
In an interview with India Today ahead of a visit to New Delhi, Putin described talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as “very useful” but confirmed no compromise was reached on territorial issues.
“Either we will liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories and stop fighting there,” Putin said, according to state agency Tass.
The remarks appear to contradict earlier optimism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said his negotiators left Moscow with the strong impression that Putin wanted “to make a deal” to end the war.
Putin indicated that a proposed 28-point U.S. peace plan, later revised to 19 points after Ukrainian objections, remains under discussion but aligns with Russia’s longstanding demands, including control over the entire Donbas.
Russian officials said several documents were reviewed during five-hour talks in Moscow on Tuesday, but no agreement emerged on key issues such as territory and Ukrainian security guarantees.
A follow-up meeting between U.S. negotiators and Ukrainian representatives, including Rustem Umerov, is scheduled in Florida.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out ceding territory, citing constitutional restrictions and the principle of not rewarding invasion.
Kyiv maintains that sustained pressure on Moscow is required for any meaningful agreement.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue battlefield advances in Donetsk, where Ukraine retains control over roughly 5,000 square kilometers, including northern areas of the strategic city of Pokrovsk.
Recent Russian strikes injured civilians in Kryvyi Rih, Kherson, and Odesa.