Diplomacy On One Side, Defiance On The Other? Russia’s Warning Message On Ukraine No One Can Ignore | World News

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled on Wednesday (December 17) that he has no intention of softening Moscow’s stance towards Ukraine, even as US President Donald Trump has stepped up efforts to broker a peace agreement. Speaking at a time when diplomatic activities intensified in Washington and across European capitals, Putin clearly stated that Russia’s territorial claims are non-negotiable.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Putin criticized Ukraine’s European backers in a defiant tone. He said Moscow preferred diplomacy but left no doubt about the alternative path Russia was ready to take.

“We would prefer to do this and eliminate the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy. If the other side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will succeed in recovering its historical lands by military means,” he added, referring to Ukrainian regions that Moscow wants Kiev to give up.

These demands are one of the most controversial issues in the ongoing peace talks. Territorial control and long-term security guarantees for Ukraine continue to dominate negotiations, highlighting differences in priorities between Kiev, Washington, European capitals and Moscow.

Russia had already declared its illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Donbas region, although it had not been able to fully seize it on the ground.

According to an assessment by the US-based Institute for the Study of War, Moscow’s current pace of advance means it will take until August 2027 to capture the entire Donbas region.

Earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reiterated Kiev’s position, saying Ukraine would not recognize temporarily occupied parts of eastern Donbas as Russian territory, legally or de facto.

It seems that Putin directly responded to the phrase “historical lands” in his speech. “There are other countries in Europe that someone in Russia might one day call ‘historic lands.’ We need real protection against this history of madness in Russia,” he said.

Putin’s speech spanned a long and winding speech, during which he repeatedly emphasized the differences between the United States and Europe. He said Russia is “engaged in a dialogue with the United States”, while suggesting that meaningful talks with Europe is distant under the incumbent leadership.

“I hope the same will happen in Europe. It is unlikely that this will be possible with the incumbent political elites, but in any case it will be inevitable as we continue to get stronger. If not with the current politicians, then it will change when the current elites in Europe change.”

Trump continued to display optimism about a breakthrough this week, saying “we’re closer now than we were before.”

European leaders, meanwhile, are being more cautious, focusing on the need for robust security guarantees for Ukraine ahead of any solution.

Putin’s comments come ahead of a key meeting in Brussels where European leaders are expected to discuss whether frozen Russian assets should be used to finance Ukraine’s defence.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of the moment in her speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday. He called on Europe to take more responsibility for its own security and to continue financial support for Ukraine.

“There can be no more important action for the defense of Europe than supporting the defense of Ukraine. The coming days will be a very important step to secure this. It is up to us to choose how we will finance Ukraine’s struggle,” he said.

European leaders are currently considering two main proposals to support Kiev; one relies on the use of frozen Russian assets, the other on borrowing to sustain Ukraine’s war effort.