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Russian chairman Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that moscow Will try to increase his profits ukraine If Kiev and its Western allies reject the Kremlin’s demands in peace talks.
us President donald trump A sweeping diplomatic effort has been launched to end nearly four years of fighting following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but Washington’s efforts have faced sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kiev.
Speaking at an annual meeting with top military officials, Putin said Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” by diplomatic means, but added that “if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in concrete negotiations, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.”
Ukraine and its Western allies consider Russia’s actions a violation of its sovereignty and an unprovoked act of aggression.
Putin claimed that “the Russian army has seized the front line and is firmly taking the strategic initiative” and warned that Moscow would take steps to expand the “buffer security zone” along the Russian border.
“Our armies are different now, they are battle-ready and there is no other army like it in the world,” he said.
Putin praised Russia’s growing military power and particularly noted the modernization of its nuclear arsenal, including the new nuclear-capable intermediate-range Orasonic ballistic missile, which he said would officially enter combat duty this month. Russia first tested a conventionally armed version of the Oresnik to attack a Ukrainian factory in November 2024, and Putin has claimed it is impossible to stop.
The demands of Moscow and Kyiv are completely different
Putin’s tough statements have emerged after several rounds of talks between Ukraine this week. American and European officials on the peace plan prepared by the US. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after meeting with US envoys in Berlin that the document could be finalized within a few days, after which the US envoys would present it to the Kremlin.
Putin wants all of the four major regions captured by his forces, as well as Crimea, which was illegally annexed in 2014, to be recognized as Russian territory. He has also demanded that Ukraine withdraw from some areas of eastern Ukraine that Moscow’s forces have not yet captured.
The Kremlin also insists that Ukraine abandon its bid to join NATO and warns that it will not accept the deployment of any troops from NATO members and will view them as “legitimate targets”.
Zelensky has expressed willingness to abandon Ukraine’s bid to join NATO if the US and other Western countries offer Kiev security guarantees similar to those offered to NATO members. But Ukraine’s priority remains NATO membership as the best security guarantee to deter further Russian aggression.
At the same time, Zelensky has rejected Moscow’s demand that it withdraw its troops from other areas that Russia is not able to take by force.
The Ukrainian leader described the draft peace plan discussed with the US during talks in Berlin on Monday as “not perfect” but “very practical”, noting that Kiev and its allies were very close to an agreement on “strong security guarantees”. But he also stressed that the key issue of control over the region remains unresolved and rejected US pressure for Ukraine to relinquish control over the eastern Donetsk region.
Russian military map ready for more profit
Reporting to Putin at Wednesday’s military meeting, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov outlined plans for further advances, and said the latest Russian advances in Donetsk set the stage for a quick offensive into the Ukrainian-controlled part of the region.
Belousov also announced that Russian troops were preparing to expel Ukrainian forces from parts of the Zaporizhia region, which Moscow also annexed but never fully annexed, in 2022, as well as make advances in neighboring Dnipropetrovsk.
“The main task for the next year is to maintain and accelerate the offensive pace,” he said.
Belousov planned to expand Russian military capabilities, focusing on drones, jamming equipment, and air defense assets.
Air strikes continue
As Russia continues its advance in several areas of the front, it has also attacked Ukraine with daily missile and drone strikes.
At least 26 people were injured by Russian glide bombs in and around Zaporizhia, according to Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional administration. The attack damaged several residential buildings, as well as infrastructure and an educational facility.
The Ukrainian Air Force said at least 69 long-range drones were launched by Russia overnight. Air defense forces intercepted or intercepted 29 drones in the morning, with attacks continuing during the day.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight.
The drone injured two people and damaged several private homes in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, according to regional emergency officials. In the southwestern Voronezh region, Governor Alexander Gusev said drone fragments damaged a power line providing infrastructure, causing a fire that was immediately extinguished.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine