Thu Dec 04 11:12:53 UTC 2025: Summary:

Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia intends to seize the Donbas region of Ukraine, either through military force or by compelling Ukrainian troops to withdraw. This declaration appears to contradict recent reports that US negotiators, particularly those associated with Donald Trump, believed Putin was interested in reaching a deal to end the war. Despite ongoing negotiations between Russia and the US, and a proposed peace plan, Putin reaffirmed his maximalist demands. Meanwhile, fighting continues in Ukraine, with Russia launching attacks on various cities.

News Article:

Putin Vows to Seize Ukrainian Territory, Casting Doubt on Peace Deal Hopes

Moscow/Kyiv – Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his intention to seize control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, either through military force or by compelling Ukrainian troop withdrawal. The statement casts a shadow on recent reports that suggested Russia was willing to negotiate an end to the conflict.

In an interview with India Today TV ahead of a trip to New Delhi, Putin confirmed that no consensus was reached during recent talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. He emphasized that Russia would liberate the Donbas region, which comprises the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, by force if necessary.

Putin’s declaration contradicts earlier claims made by former US President Donald Trump, who stated that Witkoff and Kushner gained the impression that Putin was eager to make a deal. “Their impression was very strongly that he’d like to make a deal,” Trump said.

The announcement comes amid ongoing negotiations between the US and Russia regarding a potential peace deal. While a proposed peace plan has been discussed, with revisions made following Ukrainian input, Putin’s insistence on controlling the entire Donbas region remains a major obstacle.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently maintained that he will not cede any Ukrainian territory and that Russia should not be rewarded for its aggression.

Meanwhile, the conflict continues to rage within Ukraine. Russian forces launched attacks on several cities overnight, causing casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, and Kherson were among the areas targeted.

Russia currently controls approximately 19.2% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, Luhansk, and significant portions of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia. Ukraine’s army chief affirmed that Ukrainian troops continue to hold the northern part of the key city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk, with about 5,000 square kilometers of the region still under Ukrainian control.

Amidst the ongoing violence, Russia has accused Ukraine of disrupting peace talks with attacks on oil tankers and infrastructure in the Black Sea. The situation remains tense, with Putin’s recent comments raising concerns about the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

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