Thu Dec 04 09:34:40 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
In an interview with India Today ahead of a visit to New Delhi, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia intends to take full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region, comprised of Donetsk and Luhansk, either through military force or by demanding a Ukrainian withdrawal. Ukraine has rejected any ceding of territory. Putin also mentioned accepting some U.S. proposals on Ukraine after meeting with U.S. envoys, hinting at ongoing peace negotiations based on earlier discussions with President Trump. Russia currently controls a significant portion of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, all of Luhansk, and large parts of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. The West considers Russia’s annexation of these regions illegitimate.
News Article:
Putin Demands Control of Donbas as Peace Talks Hint at Progress
Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Russia’s aim to seize complete control of Ukraine’s Donbas region, escalating tensions amidst ongoing war. In an interview published today, December 4, 2025, with India Today ahead of his scheduled visit to New Delhi, Putin stated that Russia would achieve this either “by force of arms” or through the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces – a demand firmly rejected by Kyiv.
The Donbas region, consisting of Donetsk and Luhansk, has been a focal point of conflict since 2014, with Russia backing separatists. Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has gained control of approximately 19.2% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, the entire Luhansk region, and significant portions of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
“Ukraine says it does not want to gift Russia its own territory that Moscow has failed to win on the battlefield, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Moscow should not be rewarded for a war it started”.
Despite the belligerent rhetoric, Putin also alluded to potential progress in peace negotiations. He revealed that he had recently met with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on December 2, and had accepted some U.S. proposals regarding the conflict, suggesting ongoing dialogue. Putin stated the discussions built upon previous conversations with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska in August, fueling speculation about a possible diplomatic resolution.
The West, including the United States, continues to condemn Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories and considers it a violation of international law. The conflict in Ukraine remains a major point of global tension, with the fate of the Donbas region hanging in the balance.
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